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Skye and Wester Ross attacks
Locations of the Skye and Lochalsh attacks
LocationSkye and Lochalsh, Scotland, UK
Date10 August 2022
c. 9:00 a.m. – c. 10:00 a.m. (UTC+1)
Attack type
shooting, stabbing
WeaponsFirearm
Deaths1
Injured3
ChargesMurder
Attempted murder (×3)

The Skye and Wester Ross attacks were a group of shootings and a stabbing which occurred on 10 August 2022 on the Isle of Skye and in Lochalsh (Skye and Lochalsh). The attacks resulted in one person being killed and three injured.

Attacks[edit]

Tarskavaig[edit]

At 9:02 a.m. BST, police were initially called to a property in Tarskavaig, Skye, after a report of a 32-year-old woman sustaining critical injuries after being stabbed.[1][2] She was airlifted to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.[3][4]

Teangue[edit]

At about 9:30 a.m., officers were called to an incident in Teangue, Skye, 8 mi (13 km) away from Tarskavaig.[3] The police said a firearm had been discharged and a man, aged 47, had died at the scene.[5]

Dornie[edit]

At around 10 a.m., they were called to an incident in Dornie, Lochalsh, about 26 mi (42 km) away from Teangue, where a gun had also been fired.[6] A man and woman, both aged 63, were injured and taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness and Broadford Hospital in Skye respectively.[4][7]

Police said that the incidents were linked and that a 39-year-old man (later named as Finlay MacDonald)[8] had been arrested, with a taser being discharged during the arrest.[7] He was also taken to Raigmore Hospital.[4] Multiple ambulances, air ambulances, an Emergency Medical Retrieval Service and a special operations response team were involved.[9]

Aftermath[edit]

On 11 August 2022, Finlay MacDonald was charged with the murder of his brother-in-law John McKinnon and the attempted murders of three others.[6][8] It was confirmed that his 32-year-old wife Rowena McDonald and 63-year-old chiropractor John Donald MacKenzie were still in hospital with serious injuries, but that MacKenzie's 63-year-old wife Fay had been released.[1][7][8]

On 12 August 2022, MacDonald appeared at Inverness Sheriff Court. He made no plea and was remanded in custody. He faces a murder charge, and two charges of assault to severe injury, danger of life and attempted murder, and a third charge of assault to severe injury, permanent disfigurement and attempted murder.[10][8] At the time his wife remained at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in critical condition, whilst the 63-year-old man remained at Raigmore Hospital in serious condition.[10]

On 27 July 2023, at a hearing at the High Court in Glasgow, the date for MacDonald's trial was set for 14 May 2024. MacDonald plead not guilty to all charges, through his lawyer Shahid Latif.[8]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Roberts, Karen (11 August 2022). "Tribute to 'much-loved' man who died during shootings in Skye and Lochalsh". National World. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  2. ^ "Man, 47, dead and three in hospital after major incidents in Scotland". ITV News. 11 August 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  3. ^ a b "One dead, three injured in string of attacks around Skye". BBC News. 10 August 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  4. ^ a b c Mehta, Amar (10 August 2022). "Isle of Skye and Wester Ross: Man dies and three other people injured after incidents involving firearm, Police Scotland say". Sky News. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  5. ^ Carrell, Severin (10 August 2022). "One dead and three injured after shootings on Skye and in Wester Ross". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Man charged with murder and attacks around Skye". BBC News. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  7. ^ a b c "Man killed during attacks around Skye is named by police". BBC News. 11 August 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  8. ^ a b c d e "Skye shooting accused to stand trial for murder". BBC News. 27 July 2023. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  9. ^ Mcilkenny, Stephen (10 August 2022). "Dornie: One dead and three hospitalised in 'devastating' incidents on Skye and Dornie". The Scotsman. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  10. ^ a b "Man in court accused of Skye murder and attacks". BBC News. 12 August 2022. Retrieved 12 August 2022.

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