Blairgowrie man in court accused of Alyth murder

Murray Fotheringham allegedly killed young father-of-four

A Blairgowrie man accused of murdering a father-of-four has appeared in court.

Murray Fotheringham faces allegations he punched and stabbed 26-year-old John Donachy to death at a property in Alyth.

The 35-year-old was charged following a major police investigation, which saw part of the street around the Hazel Court property sealed off for two days.

Fotheringham made no plea during the brief, private hearing before Sheriff Gillian Wade.

He was remanded in custody and is expected to make a second appearance in court next week. The family of Mr Donachy, from Dundee, described him as “one in a billion” and said they were having difficulty coming to terms with his sudden death.

A man has appeared in court accused of stabbing a Dundee father-of-four to death.

Police Scotland launched a major investigation after the body of 26-yearold John Donachy was discovered at a house in Alyth, east Perthshire, at the weekend.

Yesterday, a 35-year-old man appeared at Perth Sheriff Court charged with Mr Donachy’s murder.

Murray Fotheringham, from Blairgowrie, is accused of punching Mr Donachy around the head and body before striking him with a knife.

It is alleged the attack happened at a property in Hazel Court on Saturday.

Fotheringham made no plea and was remanded in custody.

He is likely to make a second appearance in court within the next eight days.

Meanwhile, a second man has appeared in court in connection with the same incident.

Lee Winters, 36, from Alyth, faces a separate charge of assault. He was released on bail.

Tributes have been paid to “one in a billion” Mr Donachy, who is originally from Dundee’s Hilltown.

Cousin Mary Donachy, 35, said: “My cousin John was the life and soul of every party. He was always joking and having a laugh. “This is so hard, as he was so young.” Mr Donachy, a keen Celtic supporter, had two children from a previous marriage as well as four-year-old daughter and baby son with partner Latesha Sherriff.

Mary said her cousin would be “sorely missed” and described him as “one in a billion”.

“He had four beautiful kids and a lovely girlfriend,” she said. “I can’t believe this.

“He is back with his dad, who we lost when he was 46.”

Mary, from Dundee, said it was very difficult for the family to come to terms with what happened.

“John loved to have a laugh and a joke. He would do anything for his family.

“He did the berries, daffodils and did a lot of field work with the family. He would be by your side 100% through thick and thin. He was ace, my beautiful wee cousin.”

Another cousin Jennifer Donachy posted a tribute on a Celtic FC Facebook page.

“He was a mad Celtic fan like the rest of us,” she wrote. “He was always up to mischief and just being a joker.”

The street around the house where Mr Donachy was found was sealed off by police for two days, while forensic officers combed the area, including an alleyway connecting the street with a car park.

John Donachy’s body was found in Alyth on Saturday.