Press Release
18th September 2002
Child Killer’s Waterfront
Jaunts – McNeil Demands Investigation
MSP for Greenock & Inverclyde,
Duncan McNeil, is demanding Justice Minister, Jim Wallace, launch
a full investigation into a blunder which left convicted child
killer and sex offender, Robert Gemmill, swimming apparently
unsupervised alongside children at Greenock’s Waterfront
Centre.
Gemmill, 54, was jailed for life in 1978 for the brutal stabbing of Lynda Walters, the 14-year-old daughter of cash and carry millionaire, Mike Walters, at the Stonefield Castle Hotel, Argyll.
But it has emerged that, as part of preparations for his release, he was regularly allowed to leave Greenock Prison and walk to the Waterfront Centre, where he would swim. Once it became apparent that Mr Gemmill still posed a threat to the public, the Scottish Prison Service ended these day release trips and transferred him to the sex offenders’ unit at HMP Peterhead.
Speaking to the Telegraph, Mr McNeil said:
"Mr Gemmill might now be safely locked away in Peterhead, but the fact remains that a convicted violent and sexual offender, who posed a threat to the public, was allowed apparently unsupervised access to children. This is a serious error of judgement which could have had tragic consequences.
"That is why I have made representations to Justice Minister, Jim Wallace, demanding the matter be thoroughly investigated by both the Scottish Prison Service and the Scottish Executive.
"Either the procedures for assessing life prisoners’ suitability for release are flawed, or they were not followed in this case. I want to know which – and what the authorities are doing to find this out.
"I am also seeking assurances that
every effort will be made by the Scottish Prison Service and
Scottish Executive to explain the full facts behind this case to
my constituents and reassure them that such a dangerous situation
will not be allowed to happen again."
ENDS
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