A “very violent” killer who decapitated his own father and played football with his head has been transferred to Murray Royal Hospital in Perth.
Schizophrenic Gregor McGurk killed 60-year-old Benny McGurk in June 1997 and was ordered to be detained at the State Hospital in Carstairs.
Then aged 32, he battered his father with a cricket bat before using a serrated knife to remove his head in broad daylight in Castle Douglas, Kirkcudbrightshire.
A witness covered Benny’s head with a bucket to prevent it being seen by children and later required counselling.
McGurk was originally charged with murder, but his plea of guilty to culpable homicide due to diminished responsibility at the High Court in Kilmarnock was accepted by the Crown.
At the time his estranged wife described him as “a timebomb waiting to go off”, while a consultant psychiatrist said his release may constitute a danger to the public.
In 2009, he was transferred from Carstairs to a clinic at Stobhill Hospital, Glasgow, and it has been reported that he has been moved to the newly-opened Rohallion Secure Care Unit at Murray Royal. The 67-bed unit features a self-contained flat intended to prepare patients for release into society.
It is understood McGurk has already been transferred to Perth during a secret operation.
Health Secretary Alex Neil performed the official opening of the centre on Thursday morning, 24 hours after it emerged two men kicked down locked hospital doors in an escape bid on November 17.
During the visit Mr Neil dismissed further calls for a Government review of security at the 186-year-old hospital, despite a number of patients being unaccounted for in the last 12 months.
Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Liz Smith, who has been vocal in her support of such a review, said reports of McGurk’s transfer only served to heighten concerns regarding the hospital.
She said she had organised a meeting with staff at the facility to discuss the issues.
“For me, there is a wider safety aspect and that is true for my constituents too, some if whom have written to me,” she said.
“One of the reasons I would like an independent inquiry is because I think there has been a series of issues in recent times which are threatening to undermine public trust and it would be good to have this issue resolved as soon as possible.”
Last night, NHS Tayside refused to confirm or deny the reports, saying they did not comment on individual cases.