Murder charge for man, 39, over gun rampage on the Isle of Skye
A MAN accused of going on a rampage that left one person dead and three others seriously injured was charged with murder and attempted murder yesterday.
John MacKinnon, 47, was shot dead at home in the fishing village of Teangue on the Isle of Skye in a series of ‘linked’ incidents.
Police were called to the village of Tarskavaig at 9am on Wednesday following reports that his sister-in-law Rowena MacDonald, 32, had been stabbed in her home.
The alarm was then raised around 30 minutes later after a gunman opened fire on Mr MacKinnon at his home eight miles away.
A further two people were then injured in the Scottish mainland village of Dornie after further reports of gunfire. Osteopath John Don Mackenzie and his social worker wife Fay, both 63, were rushed to hospital following the attack.
Police eventually used a taser to incapacitate the alleged attacker.
Officers confirmed yesterday that Finlay MacDonald, 39, had been arrested and charged with the murder of Mr MacKinnon and the
‘Devastation felt more acutely’
attempted murder of three other people. MacDonald, who is thought to be the husband of Mrs MacDonald and is said to be licensed to have a gun, is due to appear in court in Inverness today.
Mr MacKinnon’s family paid tribute to him yesterday, adding: ‘John was a loving husband, father of six, brother, uncle and grandfather to his family, and a much-loved member of the community. John loved the outdoors, was a keen motorcyclist and shared his activities with his family.’
Torabhaig Distillery, where Mr MacKinnon had worked as a distiller for five years, also closed.
Mr Mackenzie remained in a critical condition at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness last night. His wife was taken to Broadford Hospital on Skye, but was discharged yesterday.
Mrs MacDonald, who is mother to young children, was taken to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, where she was said to be in a serious condition.
A friend of the Mackenzies, who did not wish to be named, told how the couple’s son was travelling back from his honeymoon in Thailand to be at his father’s bedside.
He said: ‘His son is newly married so he’s coming back. It’s just disgusting, it’s terrible I just can’t understand it. John is a strong man, but he’s had some pretty bad damage.
‘ We’re hoping he can pull through. I heard he was shot, possibly through the window.
‘Fay has been discharged. I heard that she was injured by the glass shattering. It’s just a shock, nothing like this has happened here before.
‘A lot of people have firearms around here, but nobody has ever done something like that.’
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: ‘Obviously, the incidents would have been horrific in any part of the country. But the kind of communities we’re talking about are small, close-knit communities and that sense of devastation will be felt even more acutely.’
Chief Superintendent Conrad Trickett, local policing commander for Highlands and Islands Division, said: ‘These incidents took place in closeknit, rural areas and will have a significant impact not only on those directly affected, but also friends and neighbours living in these communities.
‘The policing response was significant and involved national resources from across Scotland, including Inverness, Aberdeen, Dundee and Glasgow being brought in to support local policing on Skye and Lochalsh.
‘Local officers who live and work in these communities brought the situation to as swift a conclusion as possible.’