Alexander Pacteau, killer of Irish nurse Karen Buckley, will be moved to a different prison following threats from other inmates.
The news has attracted criticism from one Scottish MSP as Pacteau’s new residence is a more modern and comfortable prison, with amenities for prisoners such as games consoles, satellite TV and a gym.
Pacteau, 21, had been at the Barlinnie Prison, which is Scotland’s largest prison and notorious for violence, disorder and overcrowding.
Pactuea will now serve his sentence at HMP Shotts, a maximum security prison that houses prisoners serving sentences over four years, and also those who have a need for additional security within the prison system.
In his new facility Pacteau will have the option of undertaking creative writing classes, craft and drama in the prison’s learning centre, as well as a range of sports including volleyball, soccer and badminton.
HMP Shotts' facilities for prisoners are listed on InsideTime.org (a newspaper for prisoners) as including: cooking facilities, hobbies kits, Playstation 2, a television, own clothes and footwear.
Scottish Conservative chief whip John Lamont said: "The impression this creates is that life in jail for a callous killer won’t be all that bad,” the Irish Examiner reports.
“That’s hurtful to the victims and their families, and gives our justice system a bad name."
The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) has responded by saying:
“The SPS has an obligation to provide appropriate equipment in prisons to allow those in our care to build and maintain a healthy lifestyle.”
“Offenders may purchase electrical items from a prison approved supplier for use within their cell. This may include games consoles, however they are not internet enabled,” she said.
The spokesperson also said that TV has been available to all prisoners in the prison system since 1999, with subscription TV available to prisoners since 2004. Prisoners contribute towards the cost with a weekly fee - a policy which is in place at HMP Shotts.
Pacteau brutally murdered 21-year-old Buckley, repeatedly hitting her with a spanner, shortly after meeting her outside a nightclub in Glasgow. He then attempted to hide the body on a farm. The killing and the nature of the crime sparked outrage in Ireland and Scotland.
The HMS Shotts prison was demolished and rebuilt in the past decade, re-opening in November 2012. The refurbished prison is designed to ensure each prisoner has a private cell, shower and toilet. At the time of the re-opening the Chief Inspector of Prisons Brigadier Hugh Monro said of Shotts: “some of the best accommodation in the prison estate.”
At the time the Scottish Prison Service described the prison as: “a well-managed, safe and stable prison, with good relationships between staff and prisoners.”
