Police search hospital in 1970s’ missing person case

Detectives have begun searching sites at the Vale of Leven hospital in connection with the disappearance of a woman 44 years ago.

Mary Duncan was 17 years of old when she disappeared from her home in Alexandria in 1976.

Extensive enquiries have been carried out in an attempt to establish any information regarding Mary’s whereabouts, but no trace of her has been found.

Searches at two sites at the hospital started on Monday August 17, and are expected to continue for a number of weeks.

Detective Superintendent Calum Young from West Dunbartonshire CID said: ‘Mary left her home at 17 years of age, with no money and has never claimed benefits, paid tax or national insurance. She also left behind her baby girl Laura, who family say she absolutely adored.

‘Specialist officers will be searching a number of locations at the Vale of Leven Hospital in connection with the investigation.

‘I would like to take this opportunity to remind members of the public and the media that this is still a functioning hospital and disruption must be kept to an absolute minimum. It is also vital that the search team is left to get on with this important work and any updates will be provided in due course.’

The Vale of Leven is a hospital used by many people across Argyll and Bute, and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde sought to reasure patients. The health board’s director of Clyde sector Marie Farrell said: ‘We have been working with Police Scotland on the planned excavation of a number of sites in the grounds of the Vale of Leven hospital. We would like to reassure patients that there will be no disruption to patient care as a consequence of these enquiries.’