The murder of a man killed by a "violent offender" released on bail days before will be the subject of a Fatal Accident Inquiry. Daniel Greer was struck with a shovel and stabbed nine times by Nicholas Henry in his own front garden six years ago.
Henry, then 43, was jailed for the killing, which happened one week after he had been taken into police custody for assaulting a police officer. Daniel's mother, Amanda Greer, believes failings by authorities to recognise his past offending could have prevented her son's death.
Mother welcomes inquiry
Amanda welcomed the new inquiry, which will probe the circumstances surrounding Daniel's death, including the actions of Police Scotland in the days and weeks beforehand. Speaking for the first time on the sixth anniversary of her son's death, aged 33, Amanda hopes her battle to uncover the truth will help protect other families from known offenders.
She said: "It's not good enough to trust an electronic tag, a fortnightly check in with a social worker or to blame overcrowding prisons. Innocent people literally die because of bad decisions and it needs to stop."
Details of the killing
Daniel was found dead at his home on Rankin Crescent in Greengairs near Airdrie on October 17, 2020, two days after he had been killed by Henry. A murder probe was launched and Henry later arrested. He was found guilty following a trial at the High Court in October 2022 and sentenced to 21 years behind bars.
However, it later emerged Henry had struck while released on licence for another violent attack. In the month before he murdered Daniel, he was arrested twice – and released each time – for violence and drug offences. Henry was first jailed in 2011 after an attack left his victim with a severed hand. He was released on licence six years into a 12-year sentence but with restrictions in place until February 2023.
Arrests before the murder
In the lead-up to Daniel's murder, Henry was arrested on September 17, 2020, for drug driving and carrying a knife. He was initially held in police cells but ultimately released. He was then arrested a second time on October 10 for drug offences and assaulting a police officer. Despite his past and the nature of his latest arrest, Henry was again initially held then released back into the public.
Just one week later, Daniel was dead. Remembering her son, Amanda said: "Daniel was the love of our lives and a devoted big brother to Kieran. He was kind-hearted and good spirited person that lifted the moods of those around him. There are simply no words to describe the agony I felt after Daniel was murdered and it’s a pain that has never diminished.
"There was simply no reason for this attack to have happened. People think the jailing of a killer can help you move on but it doesn’t – closure of a jail cell does not bring emotional closure, not even close. When I heard Henry had a history of violence and that police were in contact with him for license breaches before he killed Daniel I was just stunned. I was devastated, shocked, furious and confused. I couldn’t process what I was hearing."
Legal support and next steps
She added: "Ever since then I’ve tried to get to find out just what went wrong. I’m glad that the Crown has decided to look into things. Waiting all this time has been a real challenge but knowing there’s hope and answers on the horizon means I know it will be worth the wait and the fight. Not just for Daniel but for the public. Good people up and down the country would rightly think that when police come into contact with known criminals – especially violent offenders – that common sense will kick in to deal with them properly, remove risks and keep people safe."
It is understood the FAI into the police processing of Henry will have an initial hearing at some point in the near future after Crown agents met with Amanda days before the anniversary of her son's death. Daniel's family is being supported around the FAI by Gordon Dalyell, partner at Digby Brown Solicitors and expert in miscarriage of justice claims.
Mr Dalyell said: "What happened to Daniel was utterly horrific and the strength of character that Amanda has shown is immeasurable. At this stage there is a clear argument to be made that Daniel’s death would not have happened had reasonable steps been taken to address Henry’s repeat offending, especially when considered alongside the conditions of his early release license and criminal background. We will continue to support the Greer family as they seek to get answers and recognition."
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Our thoughts remain with Daniel Greer's loved ones and we will fully assist with any future inquiry." Henry died at HMP Low Moss on August 27 this year. Prison bosses have not yet revealed his cause of death.
