Prisoners at one of Scotland's toughest jails were left without water overnight after a supply glitch. Furious relatives contacted the Daily Record to complain after the inmates, many of them untried and on remand, were unable to wash, flush their toilets or take vital medication at HMP Barlinnie in Glasgow.
Water loss in 'A' and 'E' halls
The water loss happened in "A" and "E" halls at Barlinnie on Thursday and was finally resolved on Friday. Some family members claimed that their loved ones were left without water for 24 hours or longer.
One woman relative, who asked not to be named, said: "Prisoners in E Hall were left without running water in their cells for over 24 hours, with no alternative arrangements."
Families describe inhumane conditions
"Prisoners were unable to drink water, access alternatives and flush their toilets, leaving them in increasingly unhygienic conditions. They were unable to wash their hands, maintain basic personal hygiene and access showers. They were also unable to take essential prescribed medications because they have no water to take them with.
"These are not luxuries. They are the most basic necessities of life, and prisoners are entirely dependent on the Scottish Prison Service to provide them. Prisoners cannot simply leave to buy a bottle of water, use another toilet or obtain the supplies they need. They are entirely reliant on the prison to meet their basic needs.
"Being sent to prison is a deprivation of liberty. It is not a sentence to be deprived of drinking water, sanitation, healthcare or human dignity."
The mother of another prisoner, who also asked not to be named, said: "I had a telephone call from my son who is on remand in Barlinnie and they had no water all day which meant they couldn't flush their toilet. There is normally at least two in a cell together.
"In this day and age its diabolical that prisoners and those on remand are expected to go this long without water for hygiene sanitation. It's bad enough they are locked up 23 hours a day but to be locked up when the toilet you are using can't be flushed is totally disgusting. I think people should know about this.
"Remand prisoners are innocent until proven guilty but some of these guys have been on remand for 23 months and actual criminals are serving less time than they are."
Scottish Water fixes supply
The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) say they contacted Scottish Water on Thursday afternoon after the water pressure dropped. However the fix was only partial and some cells continued to experience no running water in toilets and taps overnight. Scottish Water completed further work on the Friday with the water supply finally back to normal.
An SPS spokesperson added: "A water supply issue affecting some people in our care at HMP Barlinnie has now been fixed by Scottish Water. Due to the age of the building, it takes time for levels to return to normal and Scottish Water are also assisting in this. Those individuals affected have been offered bottled water."
HMP Barlinnie opened in 1882, and its replacement facility, HMP Glasgow, is scheduled to open in 2028 in the nearby Germiston area of the city.
