Parents of Edinburgh student who died after suspected spiking say their son was ‘murdered’

The parents of an Edinburgh student who died following a suspected drug spiking incident have described the death as “murder”.

Greg Mackie, an 18-year-old film and media student at Edinburgh College, was found dead in his halls of residence in 2017. 

A toxicology report found he had the equivalent of five ecstasy tablets in his system but no trace of alcohol. 

Police Scotland ruled the death an unsuspicious drug overdose, but his mother, Mandy Mackie, insists her son was “murdered” after his soft drink was spiked with drugs.

via STV

In an interview with STV, Mrs Mackie said “No one’s ever been pinpointed for it. It was always shoved under the table as a drugs overdose. 

“On my son’s death certificate, it says a drugs overdose – but as far as I’m concerned, my son was murdered.”

Mr and Mrs Mackie say they felt the police did not seriously consider the possibility Greg had been spiked.

According to STV’s Scotland Tonight, since 2023, 168 cases of drink spiking have been reported to police in Scotland, an increase from 44 in 2019. Of these cases, nine have been passed onto the Crown Office, with the rest discarded due to a lack of evidence. 

Karen Tyrell, the Chief Executive of Drinkaware, a charity that works to reduce alcohol related harm, said earlier this year that nearly a million people are estimated to have had their drinks spiked in Britain in 2023. 

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In the wake of their son’s death, Mr and Mrs Mackie set up a charity, Spike Aware UK, which supports victims of drink and needle spiking and raises awareness of the dangers.

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Featured image via STV