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A grieving sister has demanded answers over the mystery prison death of her older brother. Christopher Masson died in his cell at Barlinnie Prison in Glasgow after a seizure more than 18 months ago. However his family say they have been left in the dark by the prison authorities over what caused him to lose his life. The 39-year-old, from Pollok in Glasgow, only had another ten days of his sentence to serve when he took the seizure in a cell which he was sharing with another prisoner. The cellmate called for help but Christopher died a few minutes later despite attempts by staff to revive him. His sister Skye Masson says he had spoken with their mother Karen an hour before his death and appeared in good health and spirits. The Massons will join with relatives of around 20 other victims at a vigil in Edinburgh on Saturday to demand action on deaths in custody- organised by the UK wide United Friends and Families Campaign. The gathering will be held outside the official residence of the First Minister John Swinney at Bute House in the capital's Charlotte Square from noon. Christopher, a former gardner, died in March last year while serving a nine month term for breach of the peace. Skye, a 31 year old university social work student, said her brother had a long history of mental health problems and should not have been in prison. She added: "It was a massive shock when we were told that he had died. "We feel as though there are a lot of unanswered questions. "Christopher was looking forward to getting out and would have gone back to stay with my mum. "He had been on the phone to her an hour prior to his death and phoned her every single day. "There was no cause for us to feel concerned at that time." The Masson family lay the blame for Christopher's death on what they claim was a change in medication by prison NHS staff in the January which they believe led to the fatal seizure. According to the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) website the cause of death is listed as "unascertained pending further investigations" Skye said:"My brother was failed completely. "Christopher was supposed to get mental health support while in prison. "He was very wiling to engage but was not getting the help he needed. "Christopher was in prison because they did not know what to do with him. "We believe that the change in medication led to his seizure." Skye says that the SPS have a duty of care to ensure the wellbeing of all prisoners but acknowledges that jails like Barlinnie are overcrowded and staff stretched. She added:"We thought when he was in there that he was safe and we didn't need to worry about him. "It turned out to be the other way round. "It is well known that Barlinnie is overrun and the staff are overworked." The Masson family are still waiting for a date for a Fatal Accident Inquiry which is mandatory after a death in custody. They had a meeting with senior SPS and NHS staff in December but did not get the the answers they were looking for. Skye said:"The meeting felt very guarded and it wasn't very open. "It left so many unanswered questions" Skye is now part of a growing family group of families whose loved ones have died in prison or police custody and who now support each other at monthly meetings in Glasgow . The mother-of-two added: "We try to come together and give each other information and support. "The group is getting bigger and bigger and added to all the time. "Everyone's situation is different but there are also connections in terms of the way in which the prisons are run." Skye has recently taken part in a number of events to highlight her brother's death including this years half marathon in Edinburgh with money raised going to a prisoner charity. Yesterday the Crown Office said Christopher's death was still under investigation. A spokesperson added:"The Procurator Fiscal has received a report on the death of a 39-year-old man in HMP Barlinnie on 22 March 2024. "Significant developments will be shared with the family.” An SPS spokesperson said:“Every death, whether in prison custody or in our communities, is a tragedy for all those who knew and supported the individual. "Following the death of someone in our care, Police Scotland are advised, and the matter reported to the Procurator Fiscal. Fatal Accident Inquiries are held in due course.” An NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde spokesperson said:" For reasons of patient confidentiality, we cannot comment on individual cases, but we send our deepest condolences to the family of Christopher Masson for their loss. "This case is being taken forward as a Significant Adverse Event Review (SAER). The family will be involved in this review, and we will ensure any questions they have are included. Once the report is finalised, it will be shared with the family, giving them an opportunity to discuss it with the review team. "We would continue to encourage the family to contact us to address any concerns and questions they have at this stage." One of the organisers of Saturday's vigil at Bute House is Sharon MacFadyen of Rutherglen , near Glasgow, Her nephew Allan Marshall died four days after being restrained by up to 17 prison officers at HMP Edinburgh in March, 2015. Sharon said:"We want no more deaths in custody. "We also want want an end to Fatal Accident Inquiries. "The recommendations that they make are not worth the paper they are written on. "The vigil outside Bute House is all about us remembering our loves ones. "I do not want the world to forget what happenned to Allan what was done to Allan "It is more than ten years now since his death and so many questions remain unanswered." Allan Marshall's case provoked fury six years ago after our sister paper the Sunday Mail revealed CCTV footage showing the dad of two being dragged naked down a segregation unit corridor with a towel over his face, having suffered multiple injuries. A Fatal Accident Inquiry ruled Allan's death had been "entirely preventable" and the prison officers involved in his restraint were "mutually dishonest". Allan, who ran his own recycling business, was an untried remand prisoner and like Christopher was due to be freed. In March 2023, the Lord Advocate ordered Police Scotland to investigate the SPS for corporate liability in Allan's death, including corporate homicide. In July last year the Marshall family launched a £200,000 action against the SPS, Police Scotland and the Crown Office for breaching his human rights. Last month the Scottish Prison Service admitted Allan's death was unlawful after the Court of Session in Edinburgh heard that the level of force went far beyond what was necessary.
