'Vicious' killer jailed for arranged stabbing
Published 27 Apr 2012 12:31
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KILLER: McFarlane
VICTIM: Mr Gallacher was scared before his death
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A KNIFEMAN was jailed today (Friday) for 10 years for killing a man who agreed to be stabbed.
Vengeful Colin McFarlane, 49, struck a bizarre deal with victim Mark Gallagher who had previously stabbed his son.
The High Court in Glasgow heard that Mr Gallagher, 37, made an appointment to be stabbed by McFarlane at 4pm on January 15, behind the pavilion at Argyll Park in Alexandria.
Dad-of-two Mr Gallagher admitted he was anxious and terrified, but told his girlfriend: "I'll just get a wee stab and that will be that."
Instead he bled to death after McFarlane stabbed him twice severing a major vein and an artery.
Lord Turnbull described the attack as "a callous and most vicious" resulting in two stab wounds to the depth of 14cm.
The judge said: "What you did has not only ended the life of Mr Gallagher, but has affected forever the lives of those who are close to him.
"You decided to take revenge for what you understood happened to your son - you demanded that he submit to being stabbed by you."
Mr Gallagher had agreed to the pact after weeks of phone and text threats from McFarlane.
McFarlane, of Cameron Drive, Tullichewan, earlier pled guilty to the culpable homicide of Mr Gallagher.
The court was told Mr Gallagher, from Rosshead, Alexandria, had appeared in court last November, charged with assaulting McFarlane's son, Kieran Frize to his severe injury.
An agreement was reached between the two that Mr Gallagher would allow McFarlane to stab him. In return McFarlane would not identify him in court as the man who had stabbed his son.
On January 14, McFarlane sent Mr Gallagher a message saying "mate listen my word is all I've got, don't be parra what I said will happen as I said".
The men agreed to meet at 4pm and McFarlane was accompanied by a friend and Mr Gallagher by his girlfriend.
Mr Gallagher said: "Right what's going to be happening here?" and McFarlane replied "I'm going to do to you what you done to my boy".
Mr Gallagher and McFarlane walked off and a few minutes later, McFarlane walked back alone.
Miss McDonald ran towards the rear of the pavilion and saw Mr Gallagher lying on the ground.
His eyes were open, but he was unresponsive. He died that night from his injuries.
The court also heard Mr Gallagher's mother is now unwell because she does not eat or look after herself or want to live.
Defence QC Donald Findlay said: "The accused behaved in a way that is wholly unacceptable in any civilised society.
"There was no intention on Mr McFarlane's part to inflict anything like a fatal injury. It was tit for tat."
This article appeared in Dumbarton & Vale of Leven Reporter 27 Apr 12
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