COUNCIL chiefs have been accused of a ‘cover-up’ following their internal probe into the death of a woman who set herself on fire in Clydebank Police Station.

West Dunbartonshire Council has produced a short report after its investigation into the circumstances that led to Katrien Praats committing suicide.

The document confirms that ‘service improvements’ were required following the tragedy, but the matter is now being passed on to a committee involving council, police and NHS bosses to review.

Councillor Jim Bollan of the Scottish Socialist Party insists that a full report was promised by West Dunbartonshire Council earlier this year, and described the report as “a disgrace and a blatant attempt to whitewash” over what really happened in the lead-up to the woman’s death.

He added: “This further attempt to cover up the facts is an affront to the memory of Katrien. Whatever West Dunbartonshire Council is covering up needs to be brought out into the open – and I repeat my request for an independent inquiry into the tragic and avoidable death of Katrien.”

Ms Praats, 58, set herself on fire inside Clydebank Police Station in January this year and died two weeks later in hospital. She was distressed after apparently returning to Clydebank from Belgium to find the room she was renting was unavailable.

Homeless Katrien then turned up at the council’s One Stop Shop in Kilbowie Road for help in finding accommodation. Instead, she was given money for a bus ticket to Greenock, where she had lived previously.

A council spokeswoman strongly refuted allegations of a cover-up, adding: “The council launched its own internal investigation within 24 hours of this incident, and has subsequently issued four updates to councillors on progress. Investigations have concluded and the matter will now be reviewed by the Chief Officers’ Public Protection Group.”