The traumatised former neighbours of killer Stuart Quinn say police failed to take warning signs about him seriously enough.
They believe it had been “inevitable” for years that he was going to harm somebody, having seen his violent and paranoid behaviour in close quarters.
The concerned former neigbours have now hit out at the authorities for failing to protect the public by making sure he was taken off the streets to receive the help he needed.
Quinn, 35, was sentenced to a minimum of 18 years behind bars on Wednesday for stabbing a “devoted” Aberdeen dad just one day after being released from prison.
He was said to be “upset and crying” as he travelled from HMP Grampian into Aberdeen in December 2019, as he had been due to receive help for his personal issues while locked up.
Left homeless, he met Alan Geddes, 56, who offered him a bed for the night.
But inside his Ruthrieston Crescent flat, Quinn stabbed him 40 times and confessed the killing to police as soon as they arrived at the scene.
Former neighbours recall ‘erratic’ behaviour
Last night some of Quinn’s former neighbours, who lived alongside him in a block of flats on Mackie Place, Westhill, said more could have been done to potentially prevent the tragedy.
One man recounted an incident in April 2018 where he was “nearly stabbed” with a screwdriver then punched in the face.
“I was in my car and I heard a commotion,” he said.
“My girlfriend was banging on the windows in a blind panic, screaming for me to help.
“Stuart Quinn was standing there with a screwdriver about 8-10 inches long.
“He took a swing for me and it ended in a 10 minute tussle.
“He was a mass of muscle and it ended with two of us pinning him down until the police arrived.”
The man, who did not wish to be named, said it came a few weeks after a “hostage situation” in the lobby of the property.
Quinn was said to have been behaving “erratically”, saying people were trying to kill him and refusing to let a woman leave the property.
Following both occasions, he was detained under the Mental Health Act and later released.
The man said police were “always” around at the property trying to speak to Quinn about a number of matters.
The neighbour, who has asked to remain anonymous, added: “He posed an immediate threat to society. All the warning signs were there.
“It just seems like every opportunity was taken to protect him, without protecting people like Alan Geddes from him. His death did not need to happen.
“”it’s inevitable Stuart was going to kill somebody.
“It was clear as day he needed help but he kept getting released.”
Another neighbour, Nic Flavell, said there was an “evident pattern of aggression and violence” from Quinn.
“My sincere condolences rest with Alan’s family and friends as we personally feel his death was preventable if Stuart received the help he needed,” he wrote online.
Officers ensured Quinn had ‘necessary care’
However, police say they did not receive any reports of an assault during the April 2018 incident, and established “no crime had been committed” at the one prior.
Superintendent Neil McDonald from North East Division said: “On Sunday, April 22 2018, officers were called to an address in Mackie Place, Westhill, due to reports of a man behaving erratically and carrying an offensive weapon.
“Officers arrested the 32-year-old man and he was detained under the Mental Health Act.
“No report of an assault was received by police in relation to this incident and officers ensured the man was left in the care necessary for his medical needs.
“He was later charged with threatening and abusive behaviour and possession of an offensive weapon, and subsequently convicted at court.
“Previously, on Saturday March 17 2018, officers attended at the same address due to reports of a 32-year-old man behaving erratically.
“No crime had been committed, but due to concern for the man, he was taken to a local hospital and detained under the Mental Health Act.”
He added: “The murder of Alan Geddes was investigated thoroughly and Stuart Quinn was quickly arrested, charged and pled guilty.
“Our thoughts remain with Alan’s family and friends who have suffered a terrible loss.”