A jail death probe is to be held for a Scots knife killer who boasted ‘prison is a doddle’ before dying behind bars
Brendan Reilly was locked up after stabbing a man to death just hours after being released from Polmont Young Offenders Institute in 2005.
The 34-year-old boasted that he could serve his mandatory 15-year sentence “no bother” and wrote victim David Wilson’s murder off as “tough luck”.
At HMP Bowhouse in Kilmarnock, Reilly was never allowed to leave, and on June 11, 2021, his body was found dead in his cell.
A preliminary hearing has been set for May 15th by Kilmarnock Sheriff Court in connection with a fatal accident investigation.
Procurator Fiscal Andy Shanks, who leads on fatalities investigations for COPFS, said: “The death of Brendan Reilly occurred while in legal custody and as such a Fatal Accident Inquiry is mandatory.
“The lodging of the First Notice enables FAI proceedings to commence under the direction of the Sheriff.”
In letters sent to a pen pal after being jailed, Reilly bragged: “There is nothing I can say apart from he deserved it. If I could do it all again I would, no bother.
Reilly, then 19, had been walking in Port Glasgow with his girlfriend when he met his Mr Wilson. Following an altercation, Reilly knifed him three times in the back, puncturing his lung.
The killer claimed he had acted in self-defence and had been carrying the knife for his own protection. The attack took place the same day Reilly had been released from custody after serving half his four-month sentence for possessing a blade.
FAI will examine the circumstances of Reilly’s death including morning checks by jail staff. It’s also expected to consider the issue of drug supply within the prison and procedures in place to limit it.
Unlike criminal proceedings, FAIs are inquisitorial in nature, and are used to establish facts rather than to apportion blame.
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