What an MP said after visit to the only Scot on America?s Death Row

Our exclusive pictures also show how he was chained and shackled to the floor during a visit from human rights campaigners last week.

Richey, who is awaiting the outcome of his latest appeal, is only allowed one hour's recreation a day.

Prime Minister Tony Blair will now be told about the horrific conditions endured by Britain's only inmate on America's infamous Death Row.

Mr Carmichael, Lib Dem MP for Orkney and Shetland, yesterday said he was disturbed by his visit to Mansfield Correctional Facility in Ohio.

He also insisted Richey, 39, should not be executed as new evidence could prove the inmate is innocent of killing a two-year-old in a fire.

Mr Carmichael said: "Inhuman and degrading is the only way to describe the treatment of Death Row inmates.

"When we saw Kenny his arms were cuffed to a chain about his waist and he was padlocked to a ring in the floor. This is how we used to keep pigs in Britain but we made it illegal for animals a few years ago.

?I am also seriously concerned about the medical and dental treatment he is receiving. He has a front tooth missing and has fashioned a false tooth from a plastic fork.?

He added: "There are far too many doubts about the conduct of the original trial that it would be a total affront to justice for him to be executed.

"Thankfully we have abolished the death penalty and I want the Ohio authorities to realise that system of justice, involving humans can be free of mistakes."

Richey, who was born in the Netherlands to a Scottish mother, grew up in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle, before moving to Ohio when he was 18 to live with his American father and he later joined the US Marines.

On the evening of June 29, 1986, he had been at a party, celebrating the fact he was to return to Scotland and take a job as a nightclub doorman.

Some time later a fire broke out at a nearby apartment block and despite the effort of firefighters, Cynthia Collins, two, was trapped and died from smoke inhalation.

Following a brief investigation, Richey was arrested and convicted of using petrol and paint thinner to start the fire.

The court was told he started the fire out of jealousy, in a bid to kill a former girlfriend, who was asleep with her new boyfriend in the apartment below the one that burned.

During the three-day trial Richey twice rejected plea-bargains which would have spared his life if he had admitted to starting the fire. He insisted he would rather be put to death than admit to the crime he denies.

In 1997 two witnesses who had claimed Richey had threatened to burn down the apartment, retracted statements. New forensic evidence also casts doubt on whether the fire was started deliberately at all.

RICHEY'S case has won support from the European Parliament, a host of politicians, celebrities and even the Pope. It is also believed Hollywood star Harvey Keitel is being lined up to appear in a film. A movie company wants the Reservoir Dogs actor to play the prosecutor who had Kenny Richey jailed.

For the past eight months he has been awaiting the outcome of his latest appeal after losing a string of legal challenges to his conviction.

Nine years ago he came within an hour of going to the electric chair before being granted a stay. He had said his last goodbyes to his Scottish mother and family and his head was shaved ready for electrocution.

He said recently Death Row had made him stronger as a person and said it had helped control his anger. Richey said: "It used to be before I'd go off at anything. I was hard to get along with, now I'm easy to get along with.

"I'm more patient, more tolerant of people, but less trusting of individuals."

Mr Carmichael visited Richey on Wednesday along with Amnesty International director Kate Allen in a bid to put pressure on officials to reconsider the case.

The MP, who has attracted 100 signatures on a Parliamentary motion supporting Richey's case, said: "Despite everything, Kenny is in remarkably good spirits.

"Understandably he has a deep distrust of the criminal justice system and is unsure how his latest appeal will go.

"He has fond memories of his life in Edinburgh and talks about Scotland and his life here a lot. He lives in the past because his present is so bleak, and his future is so uncertain.

"Despite all this he is adamant he has no regrets about turning down a plea bargain and is determined to prove his innocence." Last month Richey began his 18th year on Death Row and although Tony Blair promised to look at the case, campaigners insist more pressure should be placed on US authorities.

His fiancee Karen Torley, from Cambuslang, Glasgow, has said she believes he will escape the death penalty. The mother-of-four said: "I believe Kenny will come home."

During their visit Mr Carmichael and Amnesty officials met with representatives of Ohio governor Bob Taft who has the power to spare Richey's life should his appeal fail and he does not receive a new trial.

Ms Allen said: "There is a catalogue of issues that lead us to believe his case was not safe. To carry out the death penalty in that situation would be absolutely appalling.

"We will be raising this back in the UK, at the highest level, with Tony Blair. We want to know how Mr Blair intends to act on Kenny's behalf."

Ohio state prison officials dismissed claims Richey had been denied medical or dental treatment. A spokeswoman added: "He only wears his false tooth when he has visitors.