The heartbroken parents of tragic Kevin Mcleod who drowned at Wick Harbour 21 years ago have lodged a complaint against the Chief Inspector of Constabulary with the Justice Secretary.
Devastated Hugh and June Mcleod – who believe their son was murdered – have written to the minister in relation to the handling of the investigation into the mystery death.
They have also written to the Lord Advocate requesting that he personally meet them to discuss the recent apology and admission by Police Scotland that legacy force Northern Constabulary failed to act on the Crown’s specific instruction two decades ago to investigate the death as murder.
A fatal accident inquiry has ruled an “open verdict” into the death, which police continue to treat as “unexplained”.
Mr McLeod’s family believe the 24-year-old electrician was murdered in the early hours of February 8, 1997.
In December, Scotland’s top policeman, Deputy Chief Constable Iain Livingstone, admitted “serious failings” in the investigation in a personal apology to the McLeod family.
He conceded officers had missed the opportunity to gather vital evidence and in particular that the former Northern Constabulary had failed to act on a formal instruction from the Procurator Fiscal to investigate the death at the time as murder.
In a letter to Justice Secretary Michael Matheson, Mr and Mrs McLeod have lodged a complaint against HM Inspector of Constabulary Derek Penman, who retires at the end of March, and his predecessors dating back to 1997, for “nonfeasance in public office”.
A spokesman for HMICS said: “Derek Penman, HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary in Scotland has recently responded to a number of requests from the parents of Kevin McLeod, in which he has endeavoured to clarify his legal role and confirm that he has no authority to direct Police Scotland nor any other police force to reinvestigate the circumstances surrounding the tragic death of their son in 1997.
“He has also sought to explain the involvement of HMICS over the last 20 years and highlight that numerous reviews, including a Fatal Accident Inquiry, have taken place.
“Mr Penman has acknowledged the distress that the family continue to suffer and has welcomed the recent apology given to them by Police Scotland. He has also welcomed Police Scotland’s commitment to keep the circumstances of their son’s death under review, should additional evidence comes to light.”
A Scottish Government spokesman, speaking for the Justice Secretary, said: “Our thoughts are with Mr McLeod’s family. As this matter is the subject of an ongoing police investigation it would inappropriate to comment further.”
