Families of women who worked in Glasgow’s red light district are urging authorities to explain why the killers of their loved ones have not been caught.
An investigative podcast series has featured interviews with relatives of multiple women who were murdered while engaged in sex work in the 1990s and early 2000s. One family member, speaking on Rayo’s Beware Book podcast, criticized the police’s handling of the murder investigations, alleging corruption and a failure to pursue major suspects.
The podcast delves into the cases of eight women killed during that time, with four of the murders still unsolved. The first episode, which focuses on the 1991 death of 23-year-old Diane McInally found in Pollok Park, was released recently.
Although two men were initially charged with Diane’s murder, they were later released due to lack of evidence. Diane’s aunt Elizabeth Glover and cousin Shirley Waters, interviewed on the podcast, expressed their skepticism about the police’s efforts in finding the perpetrator.
Shirley remarked, “They’re all corrupt. It’s all corruption, I think. So it is. They’ll choose the crimes they want to pursue and whatever. They don’t go for the big fish.” Elizabeth, known as Dolly, suggested that prostitutes in past decades might have been safer than those in recent times and described Diane as a “lovely mother” who strayed into trouble.
The family revealed that Diane was due to testify in a court case at the time of her death and was working in Glasgow’s Gorbals district. The Beware Book podcast, named after a diary used by sex workers to warn each other of potential dangers, was initiated following the conviction of Iain Packer for the 2005 murder of Emma Caldwell.
Relatives of the victims claim they have not been contacted by Police Scotland. Alongside Diane McInally, the cases of Karen McGregor, Leona McGovern, and Jacqueline Gallagher also remain unresolved.
A Police Scotland spokesperson assured the families that the cases are not closed and emphasized ongoing efforts to address the unsolved murders. The first two episodes of Beware Book will be accessible on various platforms starting March 23.
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