Gilroy’s trial ‘cost £500k’

The price to taxpayers of bringing killer David Gilroy to justice soared to almost £500,000, it has been reported.

Gilroy, 49, was jailed last month for 18 years for the murder of Suzanne Pilley, his former colleague and lover who disappeared two years ago. He has so far failed to reveal the whereabouts of Ms Pilley’s remains. He has always protested his innocence.

Police spent nearly £320,000 searching for her body in remote areas of Argyll and also hired specially trained sniffer dogs at a cost of £18,000. Gilroy claimed £105,000 in legal aid fees. The total bill of £483,043 for one of Scotland’s largest murder probes could rise further, it has been claimed.