74 hearings over slopping out
More than 70 slopping out cases may have to be heard individually
More than 70 cases of prisoners claiming their human rights were breached because they had to slop out may have to be heard individually.
At a procedural hearing yesterday the Court of Session in Edinburgh was told that no agreement had yet been reached on whether any of the cases could proceed as test cases. Gerry Moynihan QC, counsel for the Scottish Ministers forecast that without agreement, the actions could tie up the court system for the foreseeable future.
The court also heard that Scottish Ministers have agreed to hold compensation talks with prisoners suffering from a physical or mental problem made worse by conditions involving slopping out.
Out of 74 actions, 51 concern conditions at Peterhead Prison, 22 conditions at Edinburgh and a handful conditions at Barlinnie. Over 300 cases have also been brought in the sheriff courts.
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