Home > News >

Paedophile pair jailed for life for Allison McGarrigle murder

10 June

Two paedophiles who preyed on children from a house in Skelmorlie have been jailed for the murder of Allison McGarrigle.

Killers Charles O'Neill and William Lauchlan were sentenced to a minimum of 30 years and 26 years respectively at the High Court in Glasgow on Thursday afternoon (June 10).

The sick pair met Rothesay resident Mrs McGarrigle just after she moved to the island in 1994. In 1997 they killed her after she threatened to report them as child-abusers, and disposed of her body at sea.

You can read the BBC's account of the trial here.

In 1998, O'Neill and Lauchlan were jailed for eight years and six years for 31 charges of sexually abusing children. They lured five boys aged between nine and 15 to a house in Skelmorlie where they gave them drugs and alcohol and abused them.

You can read more about their background on the BBC website here.


Have your say...

Add your own comment

Add

You need to be logged in to add news & pictures. If you haven't already, it's quick & easy to Sign up.

Sorry, there were some problems with your request

Please check that the email address you are using is the same one that you signed up with. If you have forgotten your password we can send you a reminder.

Sign In
  4. Forgotten Password?

Sorry, there were some problems with your request

Please check that the email address you are using is the same one that you signed up with.

Password reminder

  1. Type the email address that you signed up with below and we’ll send your password to you.

  4. <<Return to Login

Your password has been sent to email

Please check your email account.

<<Return to Login

Contribute

  1. By posting on s1skelmorlie you’re agreeing to abide by our Posting Policy. Your email address won’t be displayed to the public.

  1. Here's your chance to make sure your contribution is exactly as you'd like it.

  3. Your photo will be uploaded when you click 'Send it'

    >Your photo will be uploaded when you click 'Send it'

    Your photo and Video will be uploaded when you click 'Send it'

  4. By clicking 'send it' you’re agreeing to abide by our Posting Policy.

Tell everyone your news

If it’s topical in Skelmorlie, this is the place for it.

Remember that news doesn't just mean crime and politics – a golden wedding, a new baby, or a personal achievement are news to any community.

Add

You need to be logged in to add news & pictures. If you haven't already, it's quick & easy to Sign up.

Sorry, there were some problems with your request

Please check that the email address you are using is the same one that you signed up with. If you have forgotten your password we can send you a reminder.

Sign In
  4. Forgotten Password?

Sorry, there were some problems with your request

Please check that the email address you are using is the same one that you signed up with.

Password reminder

  1. Type the email address that you signed up with below and we’ll send your password to you.

  4. <<Return to Login

Your password has been sent to email

Please check your email account.

<<Return to Login

Contribute

  1. Please make sure what you’re adding is news. If it's an event, you must also add it to our What's On section before it'll be allowed here. History and advertising have their own sections, too.

    Posting Tips

  4. If your contribution is about a specific location, please enter the nearest postcode (if known)

  1. Here's your chance to make sure your contribution is exactly as you'd like it.

  3. Your photo will be uploaded when you click 'Send it'

    >Your photo will be uploaded when you click 'Send it'

    Your photo and Video will be uploaded when you click 'Send it'

  4. By clicking 'send it' you’re agreeing to abide by our Posting Policy.

In the News