By Alan Richardson

A MAJOR investigation continued yesterday into how a convicted murderer was allegedly able to escape from custody while on a hospital visit in Perth.

George McGeoch was described by Tayside Police as “extremely dangerous” after his disappearance on Tuesday afternoon.

The 36-year-old Glaswegian was being escorted by the Reliance security firm from HMP Dumfries to the appointment at Perth Royal Infirmary when it is alleged he made off.

He was recaptured close to the hospital yesterday morning.

Tayside Police, the Scottish Prison Service and Reliance launched a joint investigation immediately amid calls from politicians to examine the method of prisoner transport in Scotland.

At present, private firm Reliance is responsible for moving prisoners around the country.

Roseanna Cunningham MSP congratulated the police on the speedy re-capture but added, “The bottom line is that he should not have been allowed to escape in the first place.

“Now that he is safely behind bars the attention of the authorities must turn to investigating the circumstances of his escape, to identify and put right any failures there may have been so as to ensure that something of this nature does not happen again.

“Once more, this situation calls into question the reliability of Reliance and raises the question of whether it is appropriate or desirable for a private security company to be responsible for escorting criminals like this.”

Bill Aitken MSP, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Justice, said, “The public will wonder how it is physically possible for such escapes to happen and how easily lives can be put at risk. The urgent inquiry into his escape must answer... questions.”

A spokesman for Reliance welcomed the news that McGeoch had been recaptured and confirmed a major investigation is under way into how the convicted killer got free.

He said, “We are continuing to co-operate fully with Tayside Police and the Scottish Prisons Service in investigating the circumstances of this escape.”

An SPS spokesman said, “An immediate investigation was launched into the circumstances of the escape and that continues.

“It would be inappropriate to say any more at this point.”

Inspector Alistair Black of Tayside Police said McGeoch was arrested after being sighted on foot at the junction of Dunkeld Road and Gowans Terrace at about half past seven yesterday morning by a police patrol.

A report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal in Perth and he is expected to appear at the city’s sheriff court today.

It is believed McGeogh was recently transferred from Perth Prison to Dumfries and the hospital appointment had been arranged before his move.