MINISTER'S SON IS FOUND DEAD IN FLAT

The son of Cabinet Office minister, Ian McCartney, was found dead at
his home in Scotland yesterday in an incident police say may be drug
related.

Hugh McCartney is believed to have been found at his Glasgow flat by
his mother at about 10am.

Mr McCartney's neighbour, George Turnbull, said the 23-year-old's
mother was devastated by what she found at the two-room, top floor
flat in MacDuff Street, where her son lived alone. "I heard her coming
round this morning and when I saw her later on she was in a terrible
state, just totally in shock," he said. "He seemed a decent enough guy
to me and he never bothered anyone. He just kept himself to himself."

Mr Turnbull said Mr McCartney had moved into the small flat in a
near-derelict estate in the heart of Glasgow's East End around two
years ago.

Mr McCartney's mother was being comforted by relatives and friends in
nearby Cuthelton Terrace.

A statement from the Prime Minister's official spokesman indicated
that Mr McCartney had been told the news at a meeting of yesterday's
National Executive Committee. "(He) is now travelling to Scotland to
be with his former wife," the statement read. "They are absolutely
devastated. The Prime Minister has been informed and has sent his
condolences to the family."

A Strathclyde Police spokesman said a post mortem examination was yet
to take place. There were no suspicious circumstances and a report
would be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.

The tragedy occurs in an area plagued by drug related deaths, with 106
people having died so far this year.