Man dragged boy aged 4 into river as he tried to take own life

A MAN has admitted dragging a four-year-old boy who could not swim into a river when he was attempting to take his own life.

Thomas Kilpatrick, 44, was rescued by his brothers.

The boy was also pulled to safety on to the banks of the River Carron in Stirlingshire when the incident took place last September, the High Court in Glasgow heard.

The court was told that Kilpatrick had been looking after the child and an eight-year-old boy at the home he shared with his mother in Denny, Stirlingshire.

His mother, Andrewina Kilpatrick, said she called her son at about 5pm when he said he was out with the two children and his dog.

Mrs Kilpatrick said she was concerned that he had been drinking, and urged him to go home.

Kilpatrick then told her he was taking the boys to see his father, who had died the previous year.

The court heard that Mrs Kilpatrick then called her other sons, Brian and William, to voice her concern.

They drove to the river in search of their brother.

Another passer-by also alerted the police after seeing a “unsteady” Kilpatrick walking with two boys who appeared “worried”, the court was told.

Paul Kearney, prosecuting, said that Brian Kilpatrick found his brother.

“He watched as the accused took the four-year-old by the hand and began walking into the water with him.

Brian Kilpatrick ran down and, by the time he reached the water’s edge, the accused was knee deep in the water.

“The water was at the level of the boy’s waist,” Mr Kearney said.

“The child was obviously distressed.”

Brian Kilpatrick tried to drag the boy out, but the youngster and the accused fell into the river, the court heard.

The child was eventually rescued before Kilpatrick was saved by both his brothers and two police officers.

Mr Kearney told the court the area of water at the time was around two and a half metres deep.

The temperature was also at such a level that someone would “quickly be overcome by the cold”.

The prosecutor told the court: “Officers who examined the area advised that they have in the past recovered drowned children – older than the boy – from water no more hazardous than there.”

The court heard Kilpatrick lashed out at medics who attended the scene after he was rescued.

He then told police: “I came here to kill myself.”

Kilpatrick later claimed he did not know how he came to be in the water and denied trying to harm the boy.

He was charged at the time with attempting to kill the youngster and replied: “I don’t know how he said I was trying to murder him because he’ll not know what murder is.

“He’s only four.”

The court was told that the boy has suffered nightmares since the incident and is expected to start counselling once the court case is over.

Kilpatrick pleaded guilty to a charge under the Children and Young Persons Act.

The judge, Lady Stacey said the circumstances of the case were “tragic and extremely sad”.

She continued Kilpatrick’s bail and adjourned sentencing until next month.