Shirley McKie fingerprint inquiry opens

THE father of the policewoman wrongly accused of leaving her fingerprint at a murder scene said he hopes the public inquiry which opens today will establish the truth.

Sir Anthony Campbell, chairman of the inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the Shirley McKie fingerprint case, will open the hearings in Glasgow.

The Fingerprint Inquiry was set up to look at the steps which were taken to identify and verify the fingerprints associated with the case of HM Advocate v McKie in 1999.

It will determine the consequences of steps taken, report on findings and make recommendations.

Iain McKie, Ms McKie's father, said he hoped the inquiry would have a "truth and reconciliation" function of establishing what happened and ensuring it did not happen again.

The former policeman said: "We are hoping it will get to the truth of what happened over the last 13 years.

"We are also hoping that rather than recrimination and revenge, truth is the object of inquiry and that witnesses feel able to speak the truth and find resolution to the whole affair."

He added: "Revenge is a total waste of time."

Ms McKie, a former policewoman, from Troon, Ayrshire, was accused of leaving her fingerprint at the Kilmarnock home of murder victim Marion Ross in 1997.

But she challenged the findings of the fingerprint experts working for the Scottish Criminal Record Office and was later cleared of perjury.

And in February 2006 she was given £750,000 in an out-of-court settlement from the then Scottish Executive.

Mr McKie said his daughter would not be attending the opening session today.

He said: "She finds it very traumatic to hear all this again, and she has every faith in the inquiry to carry out its job.

"She is totally in support of the inquiry and will attend if required."
The inquiry will take place at the Maryhill Community Central Hall in Glasgow.