Killer Gilroy says no to segregation wing in jail

MURDERER David Gilroy has turned down the chance to be kept in a segregated prison wing despite being a target for attacks from other prisoners, it was reported today.

Gilroy, who was sentenced to life for killing his former lover Suzanne Pilley, had been moved to Shotts jail, near Motherwell, from Saughton Prison in the Capital after he was “taxed” for food and drink.

He was then attacked on his first day at Shotts, leaving him with a broken jaw, and the 49-year-old is said to have since been moved back to Saughton.

And it was claimed today that Gilroy turned down the chance to stay on a segregated wing for his own safety as he claims he is innocent.

A prison source was quoted as saying that Gilroy presented a “huge problem” to the prison authorities at Saughton, as the jail is not usually used to house prisoners serving life sentences.

A source added: “Gilroy has refused protection because he thinks he’s innocent and is going to win his appeal. He thinks he’s some kind of hero but the rest of the cons just think he’s a beast. The guy is a target and it’s giving the screws a headache because they’ll have to keep a constant eye on him.

“He arrived back at Saughton last week and everyone was shocked to see him as normally lifers get sent to Shotts.

“He’s been taxed for his privileges before and it’ll happen again. He’s a marked man in Saughton.”

After he was attacked on his first day in Shotts Prison, it was claimed that Gilroy had been targeted after again protesting his innocence.

Following the attack last month, a source reportedly said: “He was boasting to other inmates, telling them he was going to get off on appeal. The other cons were sickened by his attitude. He ended up taking a right beating and being whipped off to hospital.”

The Scottish Prison Service said they do not comment on individual prisoners.

Gilroy has launched an appeal against his conviction. He was told he will serve at least 18 years for the murder of Ms Pilley, who disappeared in May 2010. Gilroy, a married man, was found guilty in March of murdering Ms Pilley, his 38-year-old former lover who worked with him at Infrastructure Managers Ltd in the city centre.

Ms Pilley sparked a major missing person hunt when she disappeared.

Prosecutors believe Gilroy killed her in the basement of the building where they worked in Thistle Street and buried her the next day more than 100 miles away in the forests of Argyll. Passing sentence, Lord Bracadale said Gilroy was the only person who knew the whereabouts of Ms Pilley’s body, which has never been found.

Lord Bracadale also spoke of the “quite chilling calmness” with which Gilroy set about disposing of her remains.

The murder of Ms Pilley - and the fact that her body has never been found - left her family devastated.

After Gilroy was sentenced Ms Pilley’s parents, Rob and Sylvia, said: “As a family we continue to struggle to come to terms with losing her: we have lost our daughter but her memory lives on in everyone who knew her.

“Suzanne was a devoted daughter, a supportive friend and an exemplary colleague at work. She was a proud Scot who led a full and active life.”

The Gilroy family have stood by their son however, saying: “Our family is devastated by the verdict. We continue to believe that David is not guilty of the charges of which he was convicted by a majority decision.”