Families of women who worked in Glasgow’s red light district are seeking answers regarding the lack of arrests in their loved ones’ murder cases.
A new podcast series features interviews with relatives of women involved in sex work who were killed in the 1990s and early 2000s. One family member, speaking on Rayo’s Beware Book podcast, criticized the police’s handling of the murder investigations, calling it “corrupt” and claiming that officers did not pursue the main suspects.
The podcast delves into the deaths of eight women during that period, with four cases still unsolved. The first episode focuses on the 1991 death of 23-year-old Diane McInally, whose body was found in Pollok Park.
Although two men were charged with her murder, they were later released due to insufficient evidence. Diane’s aunt, Elizabeth Glover, and her cousin, Shirley Waters, expressed their distrust in the police’s ability to solve the case.
Shirley mentioned her belief in police corruption, stating, “They’re all corrupt. It’s all corruption, I think. So it is. They’ll choose the crimes they want to pursue and whatever. They don’t go for the big fish.” Elizabeth, also known as Dolly, described Diane as a “lovely mother” who took a wrong path over time.
The family revealed that Diane was set to testify in a court case at the time of her murder and was believed to be working in the Gorbals area of Glasgow.
The podcast, named Beware Book, draws its title from a diary used by sex workers to warn each other about potentially dangerous clients. The launch of the podcast follows the recent conviction of Iain Packer, who was finally held accountable nearly two decades after the 2005 murder of Emma Caldwell.
Family members of the victims claim they have not been contacted by Police Scotland. Alongside Diane McInally, the cases of Karen McGregor, Leona McGovern, and Jacqueline Gallagher also remain unresolved.
A Police Scotland spokesperson acknowledged the families’ pain and distress, reassuring them that the cases are not forgotten and promising to maintain regular contact with the families.
The force emphasized that the cases are not closed. The first two episodes of Beware Book will be available from March 23 on the Rayo app, Apple, Amazon Music, and other platforms.