Teenage prisoner found dead

Conditions at the jail have been condemned

An inquiry is to be held into the death of a teenage prisoner who was on remand at Scotland's largest jail.

Derek Bottley, 17, was found dead in his cell by staff at Barlinnie Prison, in Glasgow, shortly after 0700GMT on Saturday.

Mr Bottley is the second young remand prisoner to be found dead at Barlinnie in a fortnight.

The jail was condemned last month by MSPs who said inmates were held in "prisoner of war conditions".

Scottish National Party MSP Christine Grahame said remand prisoners were held in the worst conditions, even although 60% of them would never be convicted.

Prisoners are still forced to "slop out"

Mr Bottley was remanded in custody at Glasgow Sheriff Court on 11 December facing theft charges.

His body was discovered after routine checks by staff.

The Scottish Prison Service said a fatal accident inquiry would be held into his death.

An FAI is also due to take place into the death of 19-year-old Stephen Smith on 14 December.

He was being held on remand awaiting trial on a shoplifting charge.

Ms Grahame's criticism came after a visit to the prison with a group of other MSPs.

'No exercise space'

She told the Scottish Parliament's justice committee that inmates were locked in their cells every night from 2115 to 0615.

She said: "It really is important to see the remand conditions at Barlinnie. It is prisoner of war conditions.

"They have to walk up and down like caged animals because there was nowhere for them to exercise. This is something that the committee has to do something about quite quickly."