Allan Dorans
 Allan Dorans    (politician) | |
|---|---|
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| Born | Allan Hopkins Dorans 30 July 1955 |
| Alma mater | Open University, University of the West of Scotland |
| Party | Scottish National Party |
Allan Dorans is a Scottish National Party (SNP) politician who has was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock since the UK/General election/2019.[1]
Allan Dorans was made a Companion of the Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) in 1990 and a member of the Chartered Management Institute (MCMI) in 2000. He is the vice dean of Ayr Guildry.
Met Police
Allan Dorans joined the Metropolitan Police Service in 1972 serving as constable, sergeant and inspector in both uniformed and detective branches.
He completed his career in the Met Police in 1987 as an instructor at the Detective Training School at Hendon.
Politics
Allan Dorans was first elected to South Ayrshire Council in 2012 for the SNP in Ayr West ward, then appointed in 2014 as SNP Group Leader; but he was defeated in 2017. He was selected as an SNP candidate in October 2019 and was elected as the Member of Parliament for Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock in the UK/General election/2019, gaining the seat from the Conservatives.
He was appointed as the Shadow SNP Spokesperson for Policing on 10 February 2021 and is a member of three House of Commons Select Committees: Committee on Standards; Privileges Committee; and, the European Scrutiny Committee.
Yvonne Fletcher
Allan Dorans is a leading campaigner for “Justice for Yvonne” which is a campaign led by his former Police colleague, John Murray to bring to justice those responsible for the murder of WPC Yvonne Fletcher, who was shot in the back and murdered outside the Libyan Peoples Bureau on 17 April 1984.
Raising the issue at Prime Minister’s Questions in July 2020, Dorans said:
“On 17 April 1984, I was a serving police officer in the Metropolitan Police, when WPC Yvonne Fletcher was shot and killed while on duty policing a demonstration outside the Libyan embassy in London.
“No-one has ever been charged in connection with her death. In the light of reports at the weekend about a civil case being brought by her former colleague, PC John Murray, against one of the main suspects. Will the Prime Minister pledge to reopen the criminal inquiry into the murder of WPC Yvonne Fletcher?”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson declined to answer but thanked Dorans “very much for his service in the police”, and for “raising an important subject that I have followed for many years”.
The PM added: “The murder of WPC Yvonne Fletcher was sickening and cowardly. The best thing I can say to the honourable gentleman today is that I would welcome the opportunity to talk to him in person about the issue he has raised, and see what we can do to take the matter forward.”[2]
On 22 February 2022, Allan Dorans secured and led an adjournment debate on that subject in the House of Commons. The Crime and Policing Minister Kit Malthouse responded:
Following the Prime Minister’s meeting with the hon. Member for Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock in September 2020, the Home Office contacted the CPS in December of that year to ask whether it had received any more information on the case; it had not. The position remains the same as in 2017, which is that the CPS is not currently considering charges in the case. As with any case referred to the CPS by the police, a decision to prosecute is made in accordance with the code for Crown prosecutors, and a case must meet the evidential and public interest stages of the code test. In accordance with the code, the CPS will consider any new information referred to it by the police in relation to the case.
On the hon. Member’s question about evidence being withheld, it has been the long-standing policy of successive Governments not to comment on the existence or otherwise of intelligence material. I am therefore unable to confirm or deny the existence of any material that may or may not relate to the case.
The hon. Member asked for confirmation of whether the Government issued a comfort letter to Saleh Ibrahim Mabrouk. We are not aware of any evidence to suggest that any such letter ever existed or was ever issued.
In response to the hon. Member’s question regarding the extradition of Mr Mabrouk, the House should know that whether an extradition application is sought in any case is an operational decision for law enforcement and prosecution agencies. The UK Government, as a matter of long-standing policy and practice, will neither confirm nor deny that an extradition request has been made or received until such time as an arrest has been made in relation to the request.
On the question of a public inquiry, I am aware of the strong feeling in this case and of the early-day motion that the hon. Member tabled calling for such an inquiry. While of course we recognise the strength of feeling that the case evokes, the Government are not currently considering an inquiry into the death of PC Fletcher.
In closing, I would like to state once more that my thoughts are with PC Fletcher’s family, friends and colleagues. They continue to have my deepest sympathy. I, like many, have often stopped at the memorial stone in St James’s Square to consider a moment in our history that had a huge impact on many of us who were around at the time. I would also like to recognise and pay tribute again to the efforts of John Murray and the courage and resilience that he has shown in seeking justice for PC Fletcher. Finally, I thank the hon. Member for securing this debate. The murder of PC Fletcher was a heinous act that shocked our country to its core, and she will never be forgotten.[3]
Personal life
In 1979, Allan Dorans married Maureen Beeson; the couple have a son. He lists his recreations as trekking and "undertaking challenging events to raise funds for charitable causes".
In October 2021, Dorans told how he ‘endured three days of hell’ after coming down seriously unwell with Covid-19:
"After three days of hell, the most unwell I have been in my life, racking cough, crushing headache, difficulty breathing, chest pains, sickness, diarrhoea, disorientation and weakness, no sleep or food for three days and nights, being on oxygen for three days, I am now slowly on the mend but still physically weak and have some difficulty in breathing.
“However with the outstanding care and huge cocktails of drugs I have received, the symptoms have gradually been subsiding and I am hoping to be out in the next few days.
“I cannot praise all of the staff of the University Hospital Ayr enough for their care and professionalism which they have displayed not only in my care, but that of all of the thousands of people they have looked after during this pandemic.
“They are a tribute to the health care profession and I am proud of the contribution that the Scottish Health Service make to the health of this country.
“I would also like to remind everyone that this virus has not gone away and to please continue to observe the Government guidelines on face coverings, social distancing, washing hands regularly and other hygiene measures and please keep safe.”[4]
References
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