RESIDENTS in an Edinburgh street today spoke of their shock after their neighbour was revealed to be a notorious multiple killer.
Archie "Mad Dog" McCafferty served 23 years in prison for the murder of three people in Australia and was living in Edinburgh under a new identity.
The 58-year-old's past was only revealed when he was caught driving a stolen car and his original n
ame was given in court. Yesterday, he avoided another prison term after admitting the reset of stolen goods before being given 200 hours of community service.
McCafferty, who now uses the name James Lok, has been living in Beaverbank Place in Broughton while working as a self-employed painter.
Despite the high profile of his case when he was deported back to Scotland in 1997, neighbours in the street appeared oblivious to his real identity.
McCafferty claimed he had changed his name because he wanted "a quiet life".
One of his neighbours, who asked not to be named, said: "I had no idea that was him. He's just an old-looking guy I would see in the stairs. I'm not happy that he's living here."
Another resident in Beaverbank Place said: "I remember the story from the TV when he was coming back to the airport with all the cameras following him. I have to admit I had no idea it was him. I can't say I've heard of him causing any trouble here but I'd rather he lived somewhere else. If he's still ending up in court, you have to have your doubts that he's turned over a new leaf."
Glasgow-born McCafferty emigrated to Australia with his family when he was ten-years-old.
He was jailed in 1974 for murdering three tramps in a five-day killing spree, sparked by the death of his six-week-old baby. The baby's death was an accident caused by his mother falling asleep and rolling over on top of the infant.
At his trial, McCafferty, who at the time had been living in a commune, said he heard the voice of his dead son tell him that if he killed seven people the boy would be brought back to life.
He killed a fellow prisoner while behind bars and was once dubbed "Australia's Charles Manson", before being deported back to Scotland.
Speaking following yesterday's court appearance, McCafferty said that he was "not a criminal", with his latest offence involving a "car, not mass murder". He added: "I'm just a normal guy trying to get on with my life. My crimes were 35 years ago."
The court heard how the car had been reported stolen in Milngavie, Strathclyde, on October 2 last year. Police eventually stumbled upon it when a car McCafferty was driving was stopped for going through a red light four days later in Edinburgh's Nicholson Street.
Sheriff Charles Stoddart said: "I'm satisfied on the basis of the social inquiry report and what has been said on your behalf that I can deal with this with an alternative to custody."
