Murder of Caroline Glachan explained

Caroline Glachan
Birth Date:8 January 1982
Birth Place:Altnagelvin Area Hospital, Derry, Northern Ireland
Death Place:Vale of Leven, West Dunbartonshire, Scotland
Death Cause:Murder
Parents: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

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.

Murder

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

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

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

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

Trial

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

Notes and References

  1. News: Badshah . Nadeem . 2023-12-14 . Three people convicted of 1996 murder of Caroline Glachan in Scotland . en-GB . The Guardian . 2023-12-16 . 0261-3077.
  2. Web site: 2002-01-05 . 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 . 2023-12-07 . The Herald . en.
  3. News: Body of teenage girl found in river near home . 2023-12-07 . The Irish Times . en.
  4. News: 2023-12-06 . Caroline Glachan: Murder accused told detective 'I never killed her' . en-GB . BBC News . 2023-12-07.
  5. News: 2023-11-28 . Caroline Glachan: Friend advised schoolgirl not to meet man . en-GB . BBC News . 2023-12-07.
  6. News: 2006-08-25 . Mother's murder anniversary plea . en-GB . 2023-12-07.
  7. News: Ambrose . Tom . 2021-11-25 . Three appear in court charged with 1996 murder of Scottish schoolgirl . en-GB . The Guardian . 2023-12-07 . 0261-3077.
  8. Web site: 23 January 2003 . Mother's plea to find killer of daughter . The Scotsman.
  9. Web site: Caroline Glachan: Three on trial over 1996 murder of schoolgirl . 2023-12-07 . Sky News . en.
  10. News: McCurdy . Rebecca . 2023-12-07 . Caroline Glachan murder trial: 'victim was beaten unconscious' . . en . 2023-12-07 . 0140-0460.
  11. Web site: 2023-12-14 . Three guilty of murdering girl found dead in river 27 years ago . 2023-12-16 . The Independent . en.
  12. Web site: McCabe . Grant . 2023-11-28 . Caroline Glachan murder trial hears schoolgirl suffered 'at least 10 blows to the head' . 2023-12-07 . Glasgow Live . en.
  13. Web site: 1997-02-27 . Murdered schoolgirl finally laid to rest . 2023-12-07 . The Herald . en.
  14. Web site: McCurdy . Rebecca . 2023-11-27 . Teenager was 'infatuated' with accused boyfriend, mother tells murder trial . 2023-12-07 . The Irish News . en.
  15. News: 2023-11-29 . Caroline Glachan: Taxi driver saw schoolgirl hours before death . en-GB . BBC News . 2023-12-07.
  16. News: 2023-12-01 . Four-year-old boy may have witnessed 1996 murder of 14-year-old girl, court hears . en-GB . The Telegraph . 2023-12-07 . 0307-1235.
  17. News: Horne . Connor Gordon, Marc . 2023-12-07 . Caroline Glachan murder trial: Boy, 4, saw girl get 'battered' . . en . 2023-12-07 . 0140-0460.
  18. News: Forbes . Edgar . 2006-12-14 . Seeking justice or publicity? . en-GB . The Guardian . 2023-12-07 . 0261-3077.
  19. News: 2017-08-25 . Further appeal over 1996 murder of 14-year-old Caroline Glachan . en-GB . BBC News . 2023-12-07.
  20. News: 2016-09-04 . Crimewatch appeal over Caroline Glachan murder in 1996 . en-GB . BBC News . 2023-12-07.
  21. News: 2016-09-06 . Police evaluate calls to Crimewatch over 1996 Caroline Glachan murder . en-GB . BBC News . 2023-12-07.
  22. Web site: 2016-01-08 . Donal McIntyre to examine Caroline Glachan murder . 2023-12-07 . Dumbarton and Vale of Leven Reporter . en.
  23. News: 2021-11-25 . Caroline Glachan: Three charged with 1996 murder of schoolgirl . en-GB . BBC News . 2023-12-07.
  24. Web site: 2022-10-28 . Caroline Glachan murder accused 'set to spend two years behind bars awaiting trial' . 2023-12-07 . Dumbarton and Vale of Leven Reporter . en.
  25. Web site: 2022-10-28 . Schoolgirl Caroline Glachan's murder trial delayed over lawyer shortage . 2023-12-07 . . en-GB.
  26. Web site: Catriona . Renton . Paul . O'Hare . Caroline Glachan: Three guilty of murdering schoolgirl 27 years ago . 14 December 2023 . 14 December 2023 . BBC News . BBC.
  27. News: Caroline Glachan Murder: Two Men Jailed for Killing Schoolgirl in 1996. 15 January 2024. BBC News. 15 January 2024.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Murder of Caroline Glachan".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.