He beat two children to death with a hammer – but is monster now about to walk free?

Killer secretly moved to England ‘to pave way for his release’

ONE of Scotland’s most notorious double child killers has been secretly transferred to a secure unit in England – and his victims’ family believe it could pave the way for his release into the community.

Alexander Millar bludgeoned a young brother and sister to death at their home in 1976. He is considered so dangerous that he has been held in psychiatric hospitals since.

He spent more than 30 years in the State Hospital at Carstairs, Lanarkshire, before a move to a clinic in Ayr about ten years ago.

Now Millar has been transferred to England with his victims’ family told they no longer have any right to know where he is or if he is released. While the reason behind Millar’s transfer remains a secret,

‘What I witnessed then will haunt me forever’

such moves are often used as part of a pathway for release.

A source close to the case said: ‘Being released in Scotland might be impractical as his offences are clearly remembered to this day. Moving him to an obscure part of England could get round this.’

Millar tied up John and Irene McMonigle, aged 13 and 12, and beat them to death with a hammer in Govan, Glasgow, in 1976.

Elder sister Liz McMonigle and her father John senior, who died in 2018, had left the house for a few minutes to take some belongings to a new home nearby. Ms McMonigle, now 55, and her father found their bodies on their return.

Ms McMonigle, who now lives in the north of England, said: ‘We are horrified at the situation, which has left us in extreme distress. The memory of what I witnessed will haunt me forever.

‘Now there’s the possibility, however remote, that we could stumble upon him while he’s on a day release as we have no way of knowing where he is or if he’s even still locked up. He’s clearly dangerous. He is and will always be a danger.’

Millar killed the children after breaking into the house to steal the family’s television. He also indecently assaulted Irene. He admitted culpable homicide on the grounds of diminished responsibility and a judge ordered him to be detained indefinitely.

Millar was granted a cross-Border transfer earlier this month, around the time of his 75th birthday. The Scottish Government wrote to Ms McMonigle, stating: ‘Alexander Millar has transferred outwith Scotland. Because a cross-Border transfer has occurred, your right to information is affected.

‘The Victim Notification Scheme administration team will no longer be notified about Mr Millar and so will be unable to provide any further information.’

Ms McMonigle said: ‘I feel our safety and wellbeing is being placed behind the rights of a child killer and that’s disgraceful.’

A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘The cross-Border transfer of restricted patients can occur for a variety of reasons, including receiving care and treatment appropriate to their needs.’