A Scottish convict, who was responsible for a fatal crash that took the life of a pensioner, remained in handcuffs until shortly before his death from leukemia, a recent inquiry revealed. Gregg Anderson, aged 31, passed away on Boxing Day in 2021 while in custody at HMP Glenochil, where he had been imprisoned after causing the death of 68-year-old Linda Dunn in a vehicular incident at a retail park in Leven, Fife. The Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) confirmed that Anderson succumbed to leukemia, a diagnosis he received in January 2021, leading to his admission to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow for medical care. Despite undergoing a bone marrow transplant in October 2021, Anderson’s health rapidly deteriorated over the following months, culminating in his death on December 26.
Concerns were raised by Anderson’s family regarding his treatment during his final days, describing it as ‘barbaric.’ They reported to Natalie Beal, the governor of HMP Glenochil, that Anderson had been shackled until the day before his passing. Additionally, they claimed restrictions were in place preventing them from bringing an iPad into the hospital or taking photographs. However, Sheriff David Taylor referred to a statement from Anderson’s father that contradicted these allegations, specifically regarding the timing of when the handcuffs were removed. The prison custody firm, GeoAmey, subsequently reviewed their protocols, allowing for relaxed measures for prisoners in end-of-life situations to receive certain privileges they were previously denied.
Anderson, a resident of East Wemyss, Fife, was driving a white Mazda motor vehicle when it collided with Linda on October 29, 2017. Despite emergency services responding promptly to the scene, Linda tragically lost her life shortly after the accident. Initially, Anderson’s girlfriend, Tiegan Carruthers, claimed to have been behind the wheel and was visibly distressed, expressing fear of imprisonment moments after the crash. Anderson initially supported this narrative, stating that his partner was unable to open her door post-collision, prompting him to assist her before both exited the vehicle. However, an eyewitness later contradicted this account, stating that a man, not a woman, was driving the car with a female passenger just before the collision. Anderson eventually confessed to causing Linda’s death due to dangerous driving at excessive speeds, failing to adhere to a pedestrian crossing, driving without insurance or a license, and attempting to mislead authorities by falsely implicating his girlfriend as the driver to evade repercussions.
Carruthers narrowly avoided incarceration due to her young age at the time, 19, and was instead ordered to complete 225 hours of community service. The series of events surrounding Anderson’s fatal crash, subsequent imprisonment, and battle with leukemia have sparked discussions around treatment of terminally ill inmates and the justice system’s approach to such cases.