Slopping out cases go to court
2 Mar 05
A record 42 advocates are to appear for a single hearing in the Court of Session
Forty two advocates are listed to appear for a single hearing in the Court of Session on 9 March.
Each advocate will be representing a prisoner from Peterhead, all of whom claim their human rights have been breached because of inhumane conditions in their cells.
A week later, a further 30 advocates will appear in the same court for 30 prisoners held in Saughton prison in Edinburgh.
The huge number of individual cases come after the Scottish Executive refused to consider an existing ruling on "slopping out" as a test case. Robert Napier won £2,450 in compensation for the six weeks he spent on remand in Barlinnie in similar conditions.
Prison managers have set aside £26m to settle possible claims.