Courts are in chaos, says freed prisoner.

Byline: JOE QUINN 

PRISON chiefs faced fresh embarrassment after a second prisoner released by mistake told a TV station yesterday of ``chaos'' in the court system.

Colin Watson, 32,nearing the end of a two-year term for housebreaking, said he was ``stunned'' to be set free at Glasgow Sheriff Court.

In a telephone interview,he told the station he was heading back to Low Moss Prison near Glasgow,and a Scottish Prison Service spokesman confirmed later he had returned to the jail.

Watson's return came as a police hunt intensified for killer James McCormick,17,from Glasgow, who was allowed to walk free from Hamilton Sheriff Court in Lanarkshire on Thursday.

McCormickhas been described as potentially dangerous and the public have been warned not to approach him.

Reliance Custodial Services, which this week began escorting prisoners to and from some Scottish courts under an pounds 11m contract,has been ordered by the Scottish Prison Service to review its procedures for identifying prisoners.

Watson said he was serving two years at Low Moss Prison,and went to Glasgow Sheriff Court on ``another matter'' for which he was given two years probation.

``I was expecting to go back up to Low Moss but when I went through to the desk to ask what happened to me, they said`12 months probation, you'refree to go'.''

He said those in charge ``basically haven't got a clue what they'redoing''.

``They weren't policeofficers, just new people who've taken over,''he said.``It's chaos. The judges are going spare because people are not arriving on time and stuff like that. And some of the guys have heard them saying the courts aren't finishing until nine o'clockat night when they should be finished at four in the afternoon.

``I was stunned when they said 'That's you, you'refree to go'.''

Meanwhile the parents of the man killed by McCormick said they were left ``sick and scared'' by his escape.

Thomas Loughrey,42,and his wife,Mary,41, said:``Our son's killer could be stalking us now.''

``How could court officials be so daft as to let a prisoner walk to freedom? This guy is a murderer -why was he not handcuffed all the time?''

Their son,Thomas,17, was stabbed to death by McCormick in Glasgow last July.McCormick was at Hamilton Sheriff Court on an unconnected matter when he was allowed to walk free. He is believed to have switched papers with another prisoner.

The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) said yesterday:``It is believed that there may have been some collusion between prisoners to facilitate this escape and police are also investigating this.''

An SPS spokesman said Reliance had been instructed to review procedures for the identification of prisoners.

``They have told us that they have already done so and have taken action,''he said.

But SNP shadow justice minister Nicola Sturgeon said of McCormick's escape:``After a week of chaos and with delayed cases, a dangerous murderer is now walking the streets.

``It is time to get rid of the Keystone Cops and let the real police take over their traditional duties.''

But the justice minister rejected this demand. Cathy Jamieson told BBC Radio Scotland: ``The important thing is that we find out what went wrong.''