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Escaped murderer George McGeoch is recaptured

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Published Date: 20 February 2008
AN "extremely dangerous" murderer was recaptured today after escaping from prison guards during a hospital appointment.
George McGeoch, 36, gave security staff the slip on a visit to Perth Royal Infirmary yesterday afternoon after threatening them with a knife.

Tayside Police said he was arrested this morning after being spotted by a police patrol at 7.30am in Pert
h.

McGeoch, from Glasgow, was spotted on foot by the patrol at the junction of the town's Dunkeld Road and Gowans Terrace.

The officers challenged him and he was arrested without a violent struggle. Police described the arrest as "pretty smooth", given the high-risk nature of the prisoner.

Inspector Alistair Black said: "We can confirm that he has been recaptured.

"He was sighted at the junction of Dunkeld Road and Gowans Terrace about 7.30am this morning by a police patrol.

"He was coming up to the junction and the police patrol sighted him. Basically, they challenged him and he was arrested."

A report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal.

A Tayside Police spokesman had described him as "extremely dangerous" and warned: "He should not be approached if seen by any member of the public."

He was jailed for life at the High Court in Inverness in April 1999 for murdering Eric Innes, 61. He was sentenced to 13 years.

McGeoch kicked and stamped on his victim, before smothering him and slitting his throat after being invited into his house for a drink.
He met the bakery worker in a chance encounter in Inverness in September 1998.

In 2001, he took two prison officers hostage at Edinburgh's Saughton Prison. He armed himself with a razor and held Ronnie Blatt, 42, and Linda Johnson, 34.

The stand-off ended when one of the nurses managed to overpower him and prison staff stormed the cell.

He received a further eight-year sentence at the High Court in Edinburgh.

And in May last year, he was found guilty of assaulting convicted rapist Peter Docherty in a recreation room at Dumfries Prison.

For this, he was sentenced to a further three years in jail.



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  • Last Updated: 20 February 2008 9:38 AM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
 
1

connaughtboy,

stonehaven 20/02/2008 11:43:32
That's a relief !

Sack Reliance !
2

Navvy,

20/02/2008 13:04:28
Kenny MacAskill are you there. It ws done under Labour but can anyone out there translate this quote into English

"He was jailed for life at the High Court in Inverness in April 1999 for murdering Eric Innes, 61. He was sentenced to 13 years.
"
Life is more than 13 years. Clearly this is yet another example of the incompetence and doublespeak of our prison and judicial systems

Methinks that like the polis they are due for rebranding

Or rather branding on the forehead - does their incompetence know no bounds.

Dangerous, do not approach yet they left him alone with defenceless NHS staff who ought to have given him a mega sedative
3

Number 6,

Germany 20/02/2008 14:08:34
Human trash like this should be manacled day and night. If it HAS to leave it's cell then it should be attached to a Ball and Chain. It's attacks on other prisoners and staff show it is barely human , and should be treated accordingly.

How on earth did this outfit get a contract to transport our criminals ?.
4

kamiddler,

Glasgow 20/02/2008 15:31:47
The 'simplistic' view of this story is that Reliance messed up and the police did a great job.

No doubt after an 'enquiry' we will be told there is no blame attached to Reliance and the police will be criticised for taking as long as 15 hours to get him back.

Call me simple if you like.
5

Glenesk ,

Little Rock US 20/02/2008 16:56:22
It may seem antiquated, but over here, dangerous prisoners being transferred are chain shackled at the feet and hands. They even had a big deal over here to allow pregnant prisoners to be allowed to delilver not wearing hand cuffs. Like I said, it sounds anitiquated/barbaric, but hey, if it works?????
6

Paul Voltiare,

20/02/2008 18:37:31
Kenney Richey was kept manacled right to the very end, even though the authorities knew his freedom was a only a formality.
7

ghost chaser,

other side of the pond 20/02/2008 18:49:31
we have had similar escapes here in the states, i am relieved to hear he was caught. i wonder if an injection of a strong sedative would do the trick as far as knocking the dangerous ones out so they would be unable to run. just a suggestion. and if some suggest that it is against their rights, i say what about the rights of the upstanding citizens. we have the right to be safe and isn't that why these crooks are locked up anyway.
8

Number 6,

Germany 20/02/2008 18:57:51
No8 Not a bad idea there.
9

Van (not white) Diesel,

Amsterdam & Augsburg 20/02/2008 19:01:23
I have just seen archive film on the BBC of this chappie. He looks nothing like the 'wanted' picture published in the newspapers. Have they nabbed the wrong man?
10

Tris,

Dundee 20/02/2008 20:44:40


Don't worry guys, I'm sure the Reliance Report will tell us that lessons will be learned.

Reliance... ironic name huh?

Actually the scary thing is that unless he keeps on getting bits and pieces added to his sentence, one day he will get out, and he could be living next door.
11

Strathturret,

montrose 20/02/2008 20:55:24
Yes, well done Tayside police.
12

Strict Ivan Jellicoe,

Renfrew 20/02/2008 21:28:57
From past experience, Mr. McGeoch sound exactly like the type of person that our judiciary will consider suitable for early release.
13

yoric,

England colder than Moscow this morning. 20/02/2008 22:06:35
This will happen again and again untill Governments both sides of the border start treating criminals in hospital as prisoners first, and patients second.
This happened with a dangerous criminal guarded only by nurses, in England last week, ours has NOT been recaptured.

 

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