The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Murderer too violent for court appearance
Arbroath killer Adam Gallagher will be sentenced by video link in Scottish first
A murderer deemed too dangerous to bring to court will have his case heard by video link from prison, in what is believed to be a Scottish first.
Adam Gallagher, 29, from Arbroath, is serving a life sentence after stabbing a Czech fruit picker to death with a steak knife.
Prosecutors are aware of the danger he poses to people and property and are unwilling to see him leave segregation to face new charges. In light of that, the Crown has taken the unprecedented step of gaining the authority to have him appear “virtually” at Perth Sheriff Court.
The measure has previously been used south of the border in the case of high-profile criminals such as serial killer Peter Tobin.
An Arbroath killer deemed “too dangerous” to bring to court will be sentenced “virtually” – making Scottish legal history in the process.
Murderer Adam Gallagher is deemed too high risk to remove from prison, where he has spent years in solitary confinement.
Prosecutors have instead secured special dispensation to have his sentencing for new offences committed behind bars take place in his absence.
He will be present to learn how much longer he must remain behind bars by way of a video link to an as yet unidentified prison.
It is understood the step has never been taken in Scotland before – though it has been used in England in connection with high profile offenders such as Scots serial killer Peter Tobin.
Gallagher is serving a life sentence for the brutal 2006 murder of fruit picker Marek Smrz, 21, who was killed just three months after arriving in Scotland.
He plunged a steak knife into the young Czech’s heart as his girlfriend robbed him of his wallet in Arbroath’s Marketgate area.
It was a crime of pure opportunity – though one of staggering violence – after the pair stumbled upon Mr Smrz outside a pub.
During Gallagher’s trial jurors heard the victim had been slumped in the street after drinking, presenting too tempting a target to the pair. The theft of his wallet roused him, however, and Gallagher intervened to struggle with Mr Smrz and then stab him.
Gallagher’s earliest date of release is 2020 but in the meantime he has gained an unenviable reputation as one of Scotland’s most problematic prisoners.
Since he was incarcerated he has returned to court to face a string of additional offences committed behind bars.
They include assault, vandalism and fire-raising and numerous instances in which he has destroyed his cell, costing the taxpayer tens of thousands of pounds.
His latest offences, for which he is now due to be sentenced by video on June 15, relate to destroying the contents of “silent cells” at HMP Perth on April 21 and June 13 last year.
He has admitted destroying light fittings, wall sockets and fixed furniture and the door spy glass of each.