Sex killer had been jailed for rape in Ireland

A VIOLENT sex offender on the run was left free to rape and murder a mother-of-three because Irish police did not pass vital information on to their Scottish counterparts.

Patrick Rae, 41, was yesterday jailed for 20 years for the murder of Mary McLaren. It emerged he had 13 previous convictions, including two for rape, and was wanted in Ireland on two outstanding warrants - one for alleged sexual assault and trespassing offences.

The latter related to an incident where he allegedly met two women on a night out, followed them home and broke into their house before fleeing.

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It is chillingly reminiscent of how he met Mrs McLaren, 34, of Dundee, and her sister Michelle Rodger, 27, at Fat Sam's nightclub in Dundee on 25 February.Mrs McLaren was raped and strangled.

Rae was also wanted for breaching orders on the sex offenders register by failing to tell police in Ireland when he changed address.

The warrants were issued in November and December last year, by which time Rae is understood to have fled to Scotland.

The apparent failure of Irish police to tell Tayside Police of his move is part of a review by Asst Ch Const Iain Livingstone, of the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland.

• 'Fun night out' that ended in murder

"That work is still on going," he said. "The issue is how are sex offenders managed when they move from one jurisdiction to another, and the challenges that presents," he said.

Tayside Police came into contact with Rae on several occasions before the night he met Mary McLaren.

A force spokesman said: "Rae did come into contact with police in Scotland on a number of occasions. However, there was no arrest warrant in place for him. Those police officers who encountered him could only deal with matters before them.

"The full set of circumstances surrounding international protocols in connection with these matters are subject of a review led by Asst Ch Const Iain Livingstone."

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A Scottish Government spokesman said information on sex offenders was handled "police authority to police authority". They would have expected the Irish authorities to be responsible for monitoring Rae.

The Irish police force declined to comment.

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