Three Scottish prison inmates are likely to appeal against a judge’s decision to throw out a legal challenge to Alex Salmond’s ban on inmates voting in September independence referendum. Their challenge to the blanket ban, on human rights and European law grounds, was rejected by Lord Glennie sitting in the court of session, Scotland’s civil court, in Edinburgh, on Thursday, in the first of what is expected to be a series of appeals and hearings. Tony Kelly, the lawyer for the three men – Leslie Moohan and Andrew Gillon, both serving life sentences, and Gary Gibson, serving a seven-year term – said they were disappointed at losing.
Kelly said an appeal was on the cards, but he added that a final decision would not be taken early next year since he needed to see all three clients, currently in Addiewell prison near Edinburgh, to get their instructions.
“They argue that the settled will of the people of Scotland should entail all citizens having a right to express a view on the future of the nation,” he said.
Full Article: Prisoners fail to overturn ban on voting in Scottish independence referendum | Politics | theguardian.com.