Men convicted of murder, sexual abuse and grooming
Thursday, 10th June 2010
Two predatory offenders have been convicted of murder and the sexual abuse and exploitation of boys following a multi-force investigation.
Charles O'Neill and William Lauchlan were found guilty today of the murder of Alison McGarrigle in Ayrshire in 1997. In a separate case, which concluded in May, they were convicted of sexual abuse and the grooming of a child for sexual purposes in Central Scotland.
Central Scotland Police, Strathclyde Police, Lothian & Borders Police and Fife Constabulary worked together on the overall operation, which resulted in the arrests of O'Neill and Lauchlan in March 2008. The operation also involved Lancashire Police, as the men were resident in Blackpool at the time of their arrests.
Fife Constabulary and Lancashire Police were in liaison over the activities of Lauchlan and O'Neill when concerns around their grooming of a young boy from the Central Scotland area in 2008 came to light.
Central Scotland led the inquiry into that offence whilst working with the other forces to establish the circumstances around O'Neill and Lauchlan's movements and potential offending on a wider scale. That inquiry allowed further charges to be brought in relation to two historic abuse incidents dating from 2003 and 2004.
As a result of the investigation, Strathclyde Police were also able to revisit the inquiry into the disappearance of Alison McGarrigle, who was believed to have been murdered. Through liaison with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, there was sufficient evidence gathered to proceed to trial for her murder.
Strathclyde Assistant Chief Constable Ruaraidh Nicholson was in overall command of the co-ordinated multi-force inquiry into O'Neill and Lauchlan. He said: "Two extremely dangerous individuals have been removed from our communities as a result of police forces combining to work in the interests of protecting the public.
"The work carried out by the Fife, Central Scotland, Strathclyde and Lancashire forces combined intelligence gathering with focused investigative work and intensive evidence gathering which ultimately led to their convictions.
"The scale of these operations cannot be underestimated. Dozens of officers from the forces worked around the clock, using every means at their disposal, to stop these men from targeting the vulnerable. As the evidence laid before the courts has shown, O'Neill and Lauchlan were devious, manipulative and highly dangerous. They were willing to kill to ensure their activities did not come to the attention of the authorities.
"What they did not count on was the priority that is placed upon protecting the public, especially vulnerable people who may be exploited by people like this. Ultimately it was that determination to stop members of our communities coming to harm at the hands of men like O'Neill and Lauchlan that drove the investigations on and has resulted in them being convicted."
Detective Superintendent David Wilson, head of Crime Management at Central Scotland Police, said: "Our inquiry into the grooming of a boy from the Forth Valley was one of the most complex of this nature we have carried out.
"Public and child protection is a priority for our force. When we were alerted to the fact that O'Neill and Lauchlan were targeting a family in our area we put in place measures to disrupt and stop them, working closely with the other forces. That co-ordination led to the men being charged with previous sexual offences and then with murder. The public in Central Scotland and beyond are now considerably safer following their convictions."
Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Lee Dickson of Fife Constabulary, led the Scottish taskforce. He said: "The scale and geographical spread of enquiries extended throughout the United Kingdom and abroad. It was probably unique in Scottish terms and I would praise the commitment and dedication of all staff involved and the support we received from other Police Forces and agencies. Lancashire Police, in particular, provided the investigation with a thoroughly professional response. I also valued the professional support we shared with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscals Service throughout the preparation of a complex case. However, the real credit for these successful outcomes lies in the courage of the victims and witnesses who came forward, were willing to speak up in the most difficult personal circumstances, and finally give their evidence in the Court."
