MUM SLAIN IN HER HOME
Teen son fights for life after attack
A domestic abuse counsellor died and her son was fighting for his life last night after a bloody attack in their own home.
Alyson Watt, 52, was found dying from a neck wound in the suburb of Ralston, Paisley, on Friday night. Tom, 16, was also badly injured. It is believed Alyson was able to tell police what
had happened in the seconds before she died.
Police would not confirm reports that the mother and son had suffered firearm wounds.
But one source said Alyson had been able to say that she had been shot before she died.
The source added: “It’s unbelievably tragic.
“Her son was lying next to her with severe head injuries.
“Alyson devoted her life to helping others and it is just so upsetting that something like this could happen to her in her own home.”
Last night , detect ives were questioning Barnardo’s employee Alyson’s partner of 18 months.
Armed officers arrested Gary Brown, 54, in the Dumfries area yesterday afternoon. The ScottishPower technician was held hours af ter Pol ice Scot land released his photograph and warned the public that they should not approach him.
The crime scene at Penilee Road remained in lockdown amid a heavy police presence last night.
Emergency services flooded the area just before 5pm on Friday after Alyson’s blooddrenched terrier Saskia was seen fleeing the house.
Police forensic experts were also last night searching a house in Greenoakhi l l Crescent in Uddingston, Lanarkshire. It is understood Brown had previously stayed there with his now estranged wife.
Alyson was a senior domestic abuse project worker with Barnardo’s and friends said she “dedicated her life and work to helping others”.
She focused on helping abuse victims get over their ordeal.
Police would only say that a 52-yearold woman had been found dead and a 16-year- old boy had been rushed to Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.
Tom suffered a serious head injury during the attack, sources say.
One added: “It’s touch and go whether he will survive.”
Lo c a l s de sc r i b e d seeing multiple police cars, ambulances and ambulance incident response units on Penilee Road next to the junction with Roffey Park Road on Friday evening.
Detectives were yesterday searching drains in the area in the hope of finding the weapon used in the attack.
Local shopkeepers were asked to hand over any CCTV footage they had from Friday evening.
Residents living near to Ralston Community Sports Centre reported seeing Alyson’s dog covered in blood running out of a house.
Neighbours expressed their shock and horror last night at the ki l l ing of Alyson and the savage attack on Tom, a pupil at nearby Paisley Grammar School.
Tom’s father is a Military of Defence police officer but was separated from his mum.
It is believed the family had lived in their semi- detached home in Ralston for around seven years before they split.
Shocked locals described Alyson as a quiet neighbour who was often seen out walking Saskia.
Irene Boyd, 68, who lives a few doors along in Penilee Road, says her husband was walking their dog soon after the attack when he saw a body lying on the f loor of the kitchen of Alyson’s house.
She said: “The police were already here. There was a large number of officers and cars there.
“We’d nod to each other in the street – Alyson seemed a very nice woman.
“My husband was out walking the dog and was able to see into the house. It’s shocking. I’m glad the children were out of school and home by this time.”
Rosemary Boyle, 65, added: “Alyson’s mother would often look after her son when she was at work.
“It is terrible to think what she must be going through just now.
“Alyson was a really nice person and appeared to have a successful career.
“Any time I saw her, she was always going somewhere with her work.”
Neighbour Anna McLachlan, 81, said: “Everyone is in shock. She was a really pleasant person.”
One Penilee Road resident, who asked not to be named, said her husband took in Alyson’s bloodstained dog after she fled the house following the killing.
She said: ” The dog had run out the house and was covered in blood.
“My husband was out with our dog and took her in and gave her a clean.
“We kept the dog overnight and
Alyson’s mother would look after Tom. It’s terrible to think how she must feel
then the pol ice took it back this morning.”
Calum Gillies, 19, said: “I can’t believe something like this has happened here. Tom seems such a nice lad.”
Meanwhile, armed police swooped on Brown’s home in Uddingston.
A neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: “Armed cops raided it this morning and forensics have been in the house and also examining the garage.
“He moved in when the estate opened about six years ago with his wife but she left.
“I haven’t seen Gary in a while but I’ve seen his works van parked up.
“The police have asked us for the CCTV from the camera at our house.”
Police said: “We cannot confirm at this stage whether a firearm was involved as there is an ongoing examination of the scene of the incident.”
They later said in a statement: “Gary Brown has been traced and has been arrested in the Dumfries and Galloway area in connection with the death of a 52-year-old woman and the attempted murder of a 16-year-old male.
“A report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal.”
Barnardo’s Scotland director Martin Crewe said: “We are shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the death of our colleague Alyson Watt, who was a much- valued and long- standing member of staff in Paisley.
“Our thoughts are with all those affected by this tragedy and we are continuing to support police with their inquiries.”