Unarmed police officers who tackled a crazed killer responsible for a series of shootings in Skye are to be honoured for their bravery.
Finlay MacDonald – who was dubbed Robocop while working as a nightclub bouncer – repeatedly stabbed his wife Rowena at their home on the island before driving 17 minutes to another village, where he shot and killed his brother-in-law John MacKinnon.
The 41-year-old then drove for another 40 minutes before shooting and injuring Fay MacKenzie and her husband John in their home in Dornie, on the mainland. MacDonald was jailed for at least 28 years following a trial in November – and Police Scotland have confirmed the hero officers who arrested MacDonald in Dornie will now be recognised for their bravery.
Finlay MacDonald
(Image: Facebook.)
Ch Supt Robert Shepherd told BBC Scotland News: “It was absolutely amazing what they did. To intercede in the way that they did, and then for other colleagues to come and provide first aid in an incredibly challenging, sort of dangerous environment, I have nothing but huge respect and admiration for the officers involved.
“They have gone, without doubt, above and beyond what is expected of them and took the matter into their own hands to intercede and without a shadow of a doubt, in my mind, they stopped further loss of life by their heroism.”
Police responding to the 999 call about the attack on Rowena spotted his Subaru and followed him to the village, near Eilean Donan Castle in Wester Ross. Officers were advised not to stop MacDonald and were told that armed officers were also responding to the incident.
FInlay MacDonald and Rowena MacDonald.
When he arrived, he shot 65-year-old Fay through a window of the house. He then shot Mr MacKenzie in the back while trying to protect his wife. The couple then tackled MacDonald just as police arrived. One officer struck him with a baton while his colleague used a Taser.
The Record previously told how a former friend and colleague of the disturbed marine engineer said he had been known as an awkward and introverted character who struggled with interpersonal relationships.
He also developed nasty right wing views and racism that was reflected in his communications in social media. While working at the famous Garage nightclub in Glasgow as a student, MacDonald became known as “Furious Finlay” due to his deep and moody persona. The bodybuilder was drawn to violent movies and some friends joked that he was the type who “might flip at any moment”.
Finlay MacDonald was found guilty in court
(Image: Facebook.)
One friend said: “If I had to pick out one bouncer out of all the guys I worked with who’d snap and go on the rampage it would be Finlay MacDonald. There’s been a good bit of chat about that during the trial about it and everyone agrees on that point. We all knew there was something a bit odd about him and he didn’t seem to have any real empathy.
“He was awkward with people and just wasn’t tuned into the world like most people. He was a clever guy but he would be slow on the uptake with jokes and take things literally. One of the guys mocked up an image of him as Robocop, not because he was into ultra-violence but because he was like a robot. He was cold and robotic and just a bit odd.”
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