Prisoner compassionate release cases

Cases granted and refused, since 2016.


Scottish Ministers have the power to release prisoners on licence on compassionate grounds. Reasons can include:

  • terminal illness
  • severe incapacitation
  • where continued imprisonment would endanger a prisoner or shorter their life expectancy

This information was last updated in May 2021.

Date released and date died Name and DOB Nationality Case type Case offence and date of conviction Grounds for release Circumstances and life expectancy Decision Prison serving sentence Responsible Minister
Released 28/07/2016
Died 28/07/2016
Thomas Riley British Determinate Sexual/violent offences x 11 Terminal illness Cerebrovascular disease Granted HMP Edinburgh Paul Wheelhouse
Released 16/08/2016 Witheld British Determinate Assault and robbery Terminal illness Brain tumour Granted HMP Shotts Michael Matheson
Released 25/10/2016
Died 28/11/2016
John McNeil British Extended sentence Lewd, indecent and libidinous practices and behaviour Terminal illness Rectal, stomach and lung cancer Granted HMP Barlinnie Michael Matheson
Released 18/11/2016
Died 07/01/2018
Nikki Hunter British Determinate Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 S4(3)B Terminal illness Adrenal gland cancer Granted HMP Shotts Michael Matheson
Released 15/06/2017
Died August 2017
John McFadden British Extended sentence Culpable homicide Terminal illness Lung cancer Granted HMP Low Moss Michael Matheson
Released 01/05/2018
Died 09/05/2019
Robert Henderson British Life Murder, theft, fraud, attempt to defeat the ends of justice x 2 Terminal illness Brain tumour Granted HMP Low Moss Humza Yousaf
Released 05/06/2018
Died 12/06/2018
Henry McDonald British Determinate Theft by housebreaking Terminal illness Liver cancer Granted HMP Low Moss Michael Matheson

Released 19/06/2019 Died 02/12/2019

Walenty Kubica

British

Determinate

Misuse of Drugs Firearms x5

Terminal illness

Lung cancer

Granted

HMP Low Moss

Humza Yousaf

Released 19/07/2019
Died 03/11/2019

Francis Cassidy British Extended sentence Lewd, Indecent & Libidinous Practices & Behaviour: Criminal Law (Consolidation)(Scotland) Act 1995 S6, Indecent Assault x 2 Terminal illness Lung cancer Granted HMP Addiwell Humza Yousaf

Released 19/08/2019
Died 10/03/2020

Donna Morrell British Determinate Wilful Fire Raising x 3 Terminal illness Colon cancer Granted HMP Polmont Humza Yousaf

Released 18/12/2019 Died 11/01/2020

John McFadden

British

Determinate

Misuse of Drugs x 2

Terminal illness

Brain cancer

Granted

HMP Low Moss

Humza Yousaf

Released 24/07/2020
Died 30/07/2020
Craig Watson British Determinate Misuse of Drugs x 2 Terminal illness Multi-organ failure Granted HMP Barlinnie Humza Yousaf
Released 14/09/2020 Anonymous British Determinate Misuse of Drugs x 1 , Contravention of Prisons (Scotland) Act x 2, Culpable and Reckless Conduct x 1 Terminal illness Lung cancer Granted HMP Edinburgh Humza Yousaf

Released 12/01/2020 

Died 14/01/2020

John Millar British STSO Civic Government Scotland Act 1982 S52A (1) (Sexual) x S52 (1)(a) Terminal illness Lung cancer Granted  HMP Barlinnie Humza Yousaf
Released 26/04/2021 Withheld British Life Murder Terminal illness Lung cancer Granted  HMP Shotts Humza Yousaf

Released 26/04/2021

Died 10/08/2021

Joseph Hamilton

British

Life

Murder

Terminal illness

Lung cancer

Granted

HMP Shotts

Humza Yousaf

Released 29/04/2022

Died 31/05/2022

Andrew Whiteford British Order of Lifelong Restriction (OLR) Assault and robbery Terminal illness Throat cancer Granted HMP Kilmarnock Keith Brown

Released     16/08/2022

Died 28/09/2022

Sandra Weir

British

Life

Murder

Terminal illness

Advanced adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus with nodal, omental and lung metastasis  (Cancer) 

Granted

HMP Edinburgh

Keith Brown

Pre-2016 compassionate case information can be found at the gov.scot archive

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