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Murder of Caroline Glachan

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Caroline Glachan
Dillichip Loan, where Glachan was last seen.
Born8 January 1982
Altnagelvin Area Hospital, Derry, Northern Ireland
Died (aged 14)
Vale of Leven, West Dunbartonshire, Scotland
Cause of deathMurder
Parent(s)William Glachan
Margaret Glachan

On 25 August 1996, Caroline Glachan, a fourteen-year-old Scottish girl, was found murdered in the River Leven in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland. The case was unsolved for 27 years until the conviction of three people in 2023.[1]

Background

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Glachan was born in Derry, Northern Ireland.[2] She was an only child.[3] At the time of her death, she was a fourth-year pupil at Our Lady and St Patrick's High School in Dumbarton.[2]

Murder

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Glachan lived in Bonhill.[4] On the night of 24 August, Glachan planned to meet her boyfriend at a bridge after being cautioned against this by her best friend.[5] Caroline was last seen as she walked along Dillichip Loan to a friend's house from shops on the Ladyton estate at Renton after spending the evening with friends.[6] She was walking towards Dillichip Bridge and then on to the river towpath as a shortcut.[7]

Her partly submerged body was found in the River Leven, near Place of Bonhill in Renton the following day by a passer-by.[8] She was found with extensive injuries to her scalp, face and neck sustained from blunt force trauma. The day her body was discovered by police was on her mother's 40th birthday.[9] A pathologist found that ten "significant blows" to the head had rendered her unconscious before she went into the river.[10] A group of teenagers verbally abused her and repeatedly kicked and punched her on the head and body using a blunt instrument of some kind.[11] The cause of death was considered to be drowning.[12]

Glachan's funeral was held on 26 February 1997 in Alexandria.[13]

Investigation

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The prime suspect was her boyfriend at the time, Robert O'Brien.[14] A taxi driver who knew Caroline witnessed a hooded figure further down the street, walking about 30 yards behind her.[15] One key witness was a four-year-old boy.[16] He had claimed witnessing a girl fall into the river.[17]

In September 2006, a £15,000 reward was offered for information.[18] In 2015, a further appeal was made by Police Scotland.[19]

Media coverage

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On 5 September 2016, the case featured on BBC Crimewatch.[20] This followed the original appeal on the programme on 10 December 1996.[21]

The case has appeared on STV's Unsolved and CBS's Donal MacIntyre: Unsolved.[22]

Trial

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In November 2021, three people were charged with the murder of Caroline Glachan.[23] The trial began at the High Court in Glasgow in November 2023.[24][25] On 14 December 2023, Robert O'Brien, aged 45, Andrew Kelly, 44, and Donna Marie Brand, also aged 44, were convicted of Glachan's murder at the High Court in Glasgow. All three had been teenagers at the time the crime was committed. A fourth, Sarah Jane O'Neil, died before being charged.[26] In January 2024, O'Brien and Kelly were sentenced to life in prison, with O'Brien eligible for parole after 22 years and Kelly after 18.[27]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Badshah, Nadeem (14 December 2023). "Three people convicted of 1996 murder of Caroline Glachan in Scotland". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  2. ^ a b "THE KILLER ON MY DOORSTEP Caroline Glachan was beaten to death at 14. Five years on, her mother is still haunted by the fear that the killer is close by". The Herald. 5 January 2002. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  3. ^ "Body of teenage girl found in river near home". The Irish Times. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  4. ^ "Caroline Glachan: Murder accused told detective 'I never killed her'". BBC News. 6 December 2023. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  5. ^ "Caroline Glachan: Friend advised schoolgirl not to meet man". BBC News. 28 November 2023. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  6. ^ "Mother's murder anniversary plea". 25 August 2006. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  7. ^ Ambrose, Tom (25 November 2021). "Three appear in court charged with 1996 murder of Scottish schoolgirl". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  8. ^ "Mother's plea to find killer of daughter". The Scotsman. 23 January 2003.
  9. ^ "Caroline Glachan: Three on trial over 1996 murder of schoolgirl". Sky News. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  10. ^ McCurdy, Rebecca (7 December 2023). "Caroline Glachan murder trial: 'victim was beaten unconscious'". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  11. ^ "Three guilty of murdering girl found dead in river 27 years ago". The Independent. 14 December 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  12. ^ McCabe, Grant (28 November 2023). "Caroline Glachan murder trial hears schoolgirl suffered 'at least 10 blows to the head'". Glasgow Live. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  13. ^ "Murdered schoolgirl finally laid to rest". The Herald. 27 February 1997. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  14. ^ McCurdy, Rebecca (27 November 2023). "Teenager was 'infatuated' with accused boyfriend, mother tells murder trial". The Irish News. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  15. ^ "Caroline Glachan: Taxi driver saw schoolgirl hours before death". BBC News. 29 November 2023. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  16. ^ "Four-year-old boy may have witnessed 1996 murder of 14-year-old girl, court hears". The Telegraph. 1 December 2023. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  17. ^ Horne, Connor Gordon, Marc (7 December 2023). "Caroline Glachan murder trial: Boy, 4, saw girl get 'battered'". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 7 December 2023.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  18. ^ Forbes, Edgar (14 December 2006). "Seeking justice or publicity?". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  19. ^ "Further appeal over 1996 murder of 14-year-old Caroline Glachan". BBC News. 25 August 2017. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  20. ^ "Crimewatch appeal over Caroline Glachan murder in 1996". BBC News. 4 September 2016. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  21. ^ "Police evaluate calls to Crimewatch over 1996 Caroline Glachan murder". BBC News. 6 September 2016. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  22. ^ "Donal McIntyre to examine Caroline Glachan murder". Dumbarton and Vale of Leven Reporter. 8 January 2016. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  23. ^ "Caroline Glachan: Three charged with 1996 murder of schoolgirl". BBC News. 25 November 2021. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  24. ^ "Caroline Glachan murder accused 'set to spend two years behind bars awaiting trial'". Dumbarton and Vale of Leven Reporter. 28 October 2022. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  25. ^ "Schoolgirl Caroline Glachan's murder trial delayed over lawyer shortage". STV News. 28 October 2022. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  26. ^ Renton, Catriona; O'Hare, Paul (14 December 2023). "Caroline Glachan: Three guilty of murdering schoolgirl 27 years ago". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  27. ^ "Caroline Glachan Murder: Two Men Jailed for Killing Schoolgirl in 1996". BBC News. 15 January 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
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