Police officers who responded to the fatal stabbing of north-east dad Anthony McGladrigan, disarming and detaining his killer, have been recognised with a nomination for a top bravery award.
In June 2019, Constables Dayle Crawford, Alison Davis and James Will were called to a disturbance at an address in Cuminestown, Aberdeenshire.
But when they arrived, they found Aberdeen hotel worker Mr McGladrigan fatally wounded, with his killer still armed and on the premises.
Now the trio who arrested drug-fuelled killer Liam Hay, while Mr McGladrigan’s family and the man who Hay had chased to their door remained within the property, have been nominated for a Scottish Police Federation (SPF) Group Bravery Award.
‘Balanced their own safety against the needs of the victim and his family’
The police colleagues received the nomination, which recognises a group that has shown considerable bravery working in a team capacity, for their response to the extremely demanding and high-risk situation.
A spokesman for the upcoming SPF awards said that the group had shown commitment to keeping the public safe in the most demanding of circumstances.
Attendees at Thursday night’s awards ceremony will hear how Mr McGladrigan had allowed a man who was being chased by Hay to take refuge in his home and consequently was fatally stabbed.
When police arrived Mr McGladrigan’s wife was desperately trying to save his life.
Meanwhile, Hay and the man who had fled to the home were still in the property, along with the victim’s teenage daughter.
‘Officers were acutely aware they were entering a volatile scenario’
Despite the severity and uncertainty of the situation, the trio managed to locate the suspect – who was later found guilty of murder.
They managed to get him to release the knife he’d used in the killing and detain him.
The officers were then able to secure the area, ensure the daughter was safe and administer first aid, all while preserving vital evidence, which was later used in the court case.
SPF representative Caroline Macnaughton said: “These officers were acutely aware that they were entering a volatile scenario where a male had been stabbed, the armed perpetrator and an accomplice were still potentially present and that vulnerable witnesses and the victim remained within the locus.
“In unprecedented circumstances, they balanced their own safety against the needs of the victim and his family.”
Hay was initially handed a life sentence and ordered to serve a minimum of 19 years before being eligible for parole, after pleading guilty to a charge of murder at the High Court in Glasgow.
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