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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Police action over MacRae mystery | Police action over MacRae mystery |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A report has gone to the procurator fiscal naming the person suspected of killing Inverness mother Renee MacRae and her son more than 30 years ago. | A report has gone to the procurator fiscal naming the person suspected of killing Inverness mother Renee MacRae and her son more than 30 years ago. |
| In November 1976, Mrs MacRae and her three-year-old son, Andrew, set off on a drive south from their home. | |
| Her car was later found ablaze in a lay-by on the old A9 just a few miles south of Inverness. Neither Mrs MacRae nor her son have been seen since. | Her car was later found ablaze in a lay-by on the old A9 just a few miles south of Inverness. Neither Mrs MacRae nor her son have been seen since. |
| In 2004, police reopened the case and excavated a quarry near the lay-by. | In 2004, police reopened the case and excavated a quarry near the lay-by. |
| I would like for their remains to be found and like them to have a Christian burial. That is my dearest wish Morag Govans | I would like for their remains to be found and like them to have a Christian burial. That is my dearest wish Morag Govans |
| Recently Northern Constabulary's chief constable, Ian Latimer, said they believed they had closed what he called "the evidential gap". | |
| It will now be for the Crown Office to decide whether to take further action. | It will now be for the Crown Office to decide whether to take further action. |
| Mrs MacRae's sister Morag Govans said the mystery of the mother and son's disappearance still haunted her 30 years on. | Mrs MacRae's sister Morag Govans said the mystery of the mother and son's disappearance still haunted her 30 years on. |
| She said: "I hope that the report which was sent to the procurator fiscal has some information that they will be able to prosecute somebody." | She said: "I hope that the report which was sent to the procurator fiscal has some information that they will be able to prosecute somebody." |
| Mrs Govans added: "It is always there at the back of my mind. It doesn't go away and it doesn't get any easier over the years." | Mrs Govans added: "It is always there at the back of my mind. It doesn't go away and it doesn't get any easier over the years." |
| "I would like for their remains to be found and like them to have a Christian burial. That is my dearest wish." | "I would like for their remains to be found and like them to have a Christian burial. That is my dearest wish." |
| The quarry is close to the A9 where Mrs MacRae's car was found | |
| The excavation of the disused quarry was prompted by retired officer John Cathcart reporting that there was a smell of decomposing flesh in the area during the original investigation. | |
| In August 2004, police drafted in internationally experienced forensic archaeologists and anthropologists to sift 35,000 tonnes of soil, but no sign of the pair was found. | In August 2004, police drafted in internationally experienced forensic archaeologists and anthropologists to sift 35,000 tonnes of soil, but no sign of the pair was found. |
| However, Mr Latimer revealed progress had been made in the inquiry at a press conference in August this year. | However, Mr Latimer revealed progress had been made in the inquiry at a press conference in August this year. |
| Mr Cathcart welcomed the latest development in the case. | |
| He said: "Obviously the best possible evidence would have been the remains of Renee and Andrew. | |
| "If they found something in the quarry they have kept very, very quiet about it and I hope to God that has happened." | |
| Mrs MacRae and Andrew disappeared after heading off to meet her lover Bill McDowell. | |
| Mr McDowell insisted they never met that night. He was interviewed extensively by police at the time. |