Woman accused in stalking case back in hospital

Remanded: Sheriff grants order under mental health legislation until next month

A Fife woman accused of stalking Scotland’s heraldry chief and refusing to leave Glamis Castle has been remanded back to hospital by a sheriff.

Shuque Xie will be subject to a temporary compulsion order for the next four weeks after a court considered two separate reports into her state of mind, ordered in the wake of a previous appearance.

The 50-year-old, from Kirkcaldy, is alleged to have stalked Dr Joe Morrow, Scotland’s Lord Lyon King of Arms and refused to leave the castle after demanding an audience with him at the landmark, where he is incumbent in the chapel at the historic landmark.

Xie, of the Fife town’s Mitchell Street, is also charged with repeatedly sending emails to the Scottish Episcopal Church’s press office, the Scottish Parliament and various universities between July 15 2015 and December 1 last year.

She was previously remanded to Cornton Vale women’s prison until a psychiatric bed became available for a full assessment of her mental wellbeing to be completed. The case recalled before Sheriff Jillian Martin-Brown at Forfar yesterday and although Xie had been brought to court she did not appear in the dock and proceedings were conducted in her absence.

Defence solicitor Angela McLardy said two reports were available to the court, recommending imposition of a temporary order.

Sheriff Martin-Brown granted a Crown motion for the order to be applied under mental health legislation, the effect of which will be that the accused is again remanded to hospital.

The case will recall on August 14 at Forfar, when an examination of the facts in the matter will be held. Those proceedings are not a trial but allow a sheriff to assess evidence in the case.

Xie was excused attendance at the next calling of the matter.

A further charge alleging a failure to participate in a police identification parade was continued without plea until the same date.

The accused initially attempted to represent herself in court but was barred under a sheriff’s ruling due to the nature of the allegations against her.

Mr Morrow is a former Labour councillor in Dundee and in 2009 was appointed as the city’s vice-lord lieutenant.

He is a former chancellor of the Diocese of Brechin and an honorary canon of St Paul’s Cathedral, Dundee.

The Court of the Lord Lyon is the official heraldry office for Scotland which deals with all matters relating to Scottish heraldry and coats of arms.