Police arrest teenage boy in Alesha Macphail murder case
● Death of 6- year- old has left Isle of Bute in shock
A teenage boy has been arrested by police investigating the murder of six- year- old Alesha Macphail on the Isle of Bute.
The body of the schoolgirl was found in woodland on the site of a derelict hotel on Monday morning, around twoand- a- half hours after she was reported missing from her grandmother’s home.
The police said the man they arrested was under the age of 18.
Following the result sofa post- mortem examination on Tuesday evening, police confirmed they were treating the six-year-old’ s death as murder, although they have not revealed the cause of death.
Last night, senior investigating officer, Detective Superintendent Stuart Houston, said: “The response to our ear lier public appeals has been
significant. However, despite this evening’s major development, I am still appealing for anyone who was in the Ardbeg Road area of Bute on Sunday night or in the early hours of Monday and who may have information about Ale sha’ s death to contact us.
“Anyone who has CCTV at their home or business, or indeed any motorists with dashcam footage which might help with our investigation are also urged to get in touch.”
There was increased police activity yesterday at the property where Ale shah ad been staying. More than a dozen officers entered the garden of the A rd beg Road property with long sticks to search the gardens and bushes surrounding the building.
A Police Scotland spokes- man confirmed a number of items, including a vehicle, have been recovered as part of the investigation.
The car is believed to have been removed by officers on Monday or Tuesday.
The force spokesman added :“The response from the public following our appeals has been very good and we would like to thank those who have taken the time to contact us with information so far. A number of lines of inquiry are being followed up, however we continue to appeal to those who have not yet spoken to police and may have information to get in contact with us.
“We would like to speak to anyone who may have CCTV at their home or business or any motorists who have dashcam footage which might help with our investigation.”
The island community has been left in shock by the murder of t he si x- year- old, who was a few days into a threeweek break to visit family.
Reverend Owain Jones has opened his United Church of Bute in Rothesay to allow people to visit at any time.
He said: “We’re all absolutely staggered, we have no words for this and it’ s beyond any power of words to express.
“We’re all just really sitting in a kind of shared stunned silence just trying to up hold each other. Bute is one of these places that is incredibly safe, you take all sorts of things for granted here and don’t panic if you forget to lock the house or whatever.
“It’s not a remote island in the classic sense – it’s only 90 minutes to Glasgow – but even so it is an island and we all know each other at least by sight, and it’s an extremely safe place and there is no context for this.”
Meanwhile, DS Houston said Ale sha’ s family are“utterly devastated” at her death, and he appealed for anyone with information to come forward.
He is still keen to speak to people who were involved in the search for the missing girl early on Monday morning.
He added: “Alesha had lots of friends who will no doubt find it very difficult to comprehend why they will never see their friend again. For such a young girl to have her life taken away is incomprehensible.”
Flowers, teddies andb allo ons have been left on the pavement outside the property on Ardbeg Road, with messages attached reading “sleep tight little angel” and“good night little angel”. Rothesay is the kind of seaside resort beloved by generations of Scots holidaymakers.
There’s a ruined castle to explore, several beaches close by, and an impressive Art Deco pavilion currently undergoing a major refurbishment.
It’s the only town on the Isle of Bute, an island with a population of just over 6,000, and easily reachable from Glasgow.
Despite its proximity to the Central Belt, crime is rare here. Residents yesterday struggled to convey the deep sense of shock they felt at the murder of Alesha Macphail.
The six- year- old, from Airdrie, was found dead on Monday by a member of the public in woodland on
“It is an island and we all know each other at least by sight, and it’s an extremely safe place and there is no context for this”
REVEREND OWAIN JONES
the site of a former hotel in Ardbeg Road, a residential street in Port Bannatyne on the outskirts of Rothesay.
The girl had been staying with her grandparents on the island when she was reported missing.
Police launched a murder investigation yesterday and warned parents to lock doors and keep an eye on children.
Councillor Len Scoullar, provost of Argyll and Bute Council, has lived on the island since 1969. He told The Scotsman he could not recall any comparable investigation in that time.
“I am very deeply saddened to hear this latest news about little Alesha,” he said. “It is so distressing for everyone in our community on Bute and dreadful for her family.”
Mr Scoullar continued: “The police statement advising residents to take security precautions makes sense – because none of us here really have any trouble,” he said.
“While I lock my car, some of my neighbours leave their keys in the ignition. This is such a trusting and caring community, like most island communities. That’s what makes it so deeply shocking.”
One former resident, who asked not to be named, told The Scotsman: “A murder like this is unheard of. The only incidents you generally hear of are petty crime, theft, and road traffic offences.”
The Rev Owain Jones is parish minister at the United Church of Bute.
He said: “I think my personal reaction is just the same as everybody else’s – I am stunned.
“And I am lost for words and this is not something we are used to in our community. Whatever it is, it’s just tragic.”
Violent crime is almost unknown in connection to Bute.
In 2010, two men were jailed for life after being found guilty of murdering a woman from Rothesay who was planning to report them for abusing a young boy.
Convicted paedophiles Charles O’neill and William Lauchlan had denied killing Allison Mcgarrigle, in 1997 and dumping her body at sea.
Mrs Mcgarrigle, whose body has never been found, was reported missing in 1998 and declared dead in 2005.