The heartbroken family of Claire Inglis, a mother brutally murdered by her partner in her Stirling flat, is fighting for complete transparency as a damning report exposes catastrophic failures by multiple agencies that missed opportunities to save her life.
Thirty-three-year-old Claire was subjected to a horrific attack by Christopher McGowan in November 2021, just weeks after he was released from prison. McGowan, who had a history of domestic abuse, is now serving a life sentence for what the judge described as a "savage and brutal" murder.
Damning Report Reveals Systemic Failures
A significant case review conducted by the Child Protection Committee and Adult Protection Committee has uncovered multiple warning signs that were overlooked by police, social workers, and other services. The report identifies eleven specific occasions where different agencies failed to recognise the escalating danger Claire faced.
Despite McGowan's violent history and Claire's own expressions of fear, the systems designed to protect vulnerable women catastrophically broke down. The report states clearly that had these services worked together effectively, Claire's death might have been prevented.
Family's Fight for Full Disclosure
Claire's grieving father, Frank Inglis, is now demanding that the entire report be made public, not just the executive summary currently available. "We want the full report released," he stated firmly. "The public needs to see the complete findings to understand how this was allowed to happen."
The family's campaign has gained momentum with support from Women's Aid and other domestic violence charities who argue that transparency is crucial for learning lessons and improving safeguarding procedures across Scotland.
Call for Systemic Change
This tragic case has ignited calls for fundamental reform in how domestic abuse cases are handled. Advocacy groups are demanding:
- Better information sharing between agencies
- Improved risk assessment procedures
- Enhanced training for frontline workers
- Stronger accountability measures when systems fail
As Frank Inglis poignantly noted, "We don't want any other family to go through what we've been through." The family's fight for full disclosure represents not just a quest for answers, but a determined effort to ensure Claire's death leads to meaningful change that could save other lives.
