Paedophile murder pair to get Supreme Court hearing

Two notorious Scottish murderers have been granted a hearing in the Supreme Court in London as they continue to protest their innocence and pursue an appeal.

Charles O’Neill, 49, and William Lauchlan, 35, were convicted of murdering a woman to prevent her reporting them for child sex abuse.

Allison McGarrigle’s body has never been found after the pair dumped it at sea. The judge at O’Neill and Lauchlan’s trial branded them “relentless and murderous” paedophiles and jailed each for life.

Lord Pentland ordered O’Neill to serve at least 30 years, and set a minimum of 26 years for Lauchlan. Both have been given leave to appeal, but only on limited grounds. Yesterday, the Court of Criminal Appeal in Edinburgh allowed them to go to the Supreme Court to argue other grounds should be considered.