High Court to sit in Dumbarton

Jan 29 2010 by Amanda Mckendrick, Lennox Herald (main ed)

THE High Court will sit in Dumbarton for the first time next month – and rule on one of the country’s most talked about cases.

The High Court, Scotland’s most supreme criminal court, will sit in the town’s sheriff court.

The court building in Church Street reopened last February following a multi-million pound refurbishment and extension with the upgraded facilities including two jury courtrooms.

The Scottish Court Service confirmed it was being looked at as a possible venue for the high court.

The first sitting will begin on Monday, February 22, when an Edinburgh pensioner who stabbed a 74-year-old woman will be sentenced.

Eight-five-year-old Joseph McGorman stabbed Benedicta McLean 14 times outside her house in Edinburgh's Clermiston Road in October after she rejected his declarations of love.

McGorman, who admitted assaulting Ms McLean to her severe injury, impairment, disfigurement and danger of life, will be sentenced in Dumbarton.

A spokeswoman for the Scottish Court Service said: “"Both Greenock and Dumbarton courts have been added to the High Court circuit for the West of Scotland for 2010 adding to the established Paisley and Kilmarnock sittings. This allows SCS more capacity and flexibility in setting High Court trials and a wider geographic spread of High Court sitting options. We plan for the High Court to visit Dumbarton five times this year but this will depend on demand as the year progresses.”