The mother of a young woman who took her own life in prison has told an inquiry how she seemed “petrified” of other inmates the day before her body was discovered.

Linda Allan, 56, also said her daughter Katie, 21, appeared “exhausted” after reporting being kept awake at night by other prisoners shouting abuse at her from neighbouring cells.

Mrs Allan was giving evidence on the second day of a fatal accident inquiry (FAI) examining the circumstances of her daughter’s death and the death of 16-year-old William Lindsay at Polmont Young Offenders Institution in 2018.

University of Glasgow student Ms Allan was found dead in her cell on 4 June as she was serving a 16-month sentence for drink-driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

Mr Lindsay, who had been in care repeatedly, was found dead in his cell on 7 October – three days after being admitted as there was no space in a children’s secure unit.

He was remanded at Polmont despite having a history of making attempts on his life.

Mrs Allan told the inquiry at Falkirk Sheriff Court that her daughter broke down in tears during a visit to Polmont on 3 June.

Police in Dundee seize thousands of cannabis plants worth more than £2m

Kellyanne McNaughton admits stabbing Stirling care worker to death

Edinburgh pub shooting: Two in court accused of murder as third suspect charged

She said there had been a fight in the area where her daughter was being held and that other prisoners had been shouting derogatory comments at Ms Allan from their cells since then.

“She was petrified and exhausted as she hadn’t slept,” Mrs Allan said.

“She told me she had asked to be moved to another cell. She didn’t feel safe. She was terrified of the unpredictability of the environment she was in.”

Mrs Allan went on to recall how her daughter also appeared to be “frightened” of certain prison officers who were supervising her.

“She spoke highly of a number of prison officers but she was clearly frightened of other prison officers,” she told the inquiry.

Read more from Sky News:
Woman admits stabbing care worker to death
Horizon scandal: Former Post Office boss to hand back her CBE

On Monday, the inquiry heard Ms Allan was found to have traces of an antidepressant which was not prescribed to her in her body, during a post-mortem examination.

She suffered from alopecia and had a history of self-harming which prison staff were aware of.

In April 2018, her solicitor had urged the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to get her medical treatment for alopecia and eczema.

Ms Allan had lost 15lb while in custody over a period of four months after being imprisoned.

She was last seen alive by a prison officer as she watched TV, and said “hi”, just after 8pm, before taking her own life. She was found by a prison officer just before 6am on 4 June.

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

The FAI is examining the circumstances of both deaths, with particular focus on the SPS’s Talk To Me strategy in relation to the prevention of suicide in jails, and is expected to last three weeks.

It will seek to establish what, if any, precautions could have been taken, or could be implemented to minimise the risk of future deaths in similar circumstances.

The inquiry continues.

Related posts:

‘Serious error of judgement’ to use Army barracks to house asylum seekers as MPs call for shutdown Gurkha veteran on hunger strike opposite Downing Street receives hospital treatment ‘COVID is still around’: Unvaccinated students urged to get a jab during freshers week Arrest after Arsenal player allegedly racially abused at Leeds game Liverpool bomber’s asylum claim rejected six years before attack, court documents show Police charge 27 people over riot sparked by death of teenager Queen meets Justin Trudeau in first in-person engagement since catching COVID ‘He can be our wingman!’ Tom Cruise spotted at Gloucestershire air show More than 200 arrested and drugs, guns and swords seized during county lines crackdown Nurse struck off after secret lover patient dies in car Girl in hospital after ant infestation causes septic shock One in five have seen someone mocked because of their learning disability