The murders of four women involved in prostitution can still be solved according to Police Scotland’s head of major crime
Scotland’s most senior detective has vowed to bring the killers of four women to justice and urged people with information on their murders to finally come forward and “lift that burden.”
Seven women involved in prostitution were murdered between 1991 and 2025 but in only three cases has there been a conviction including that of Iain Packer two years ago for the death of Emma Caldwell.
However the murders of Diane McInally in 1991, Karen McGregor in 1993, Leona McGovern in 1995 and Jackie Gallagher in 1996, remain unsolved and unresolved.
DCS Paul Livingstone Head of Major Crime at Police Scotland says unsolved cases are constantly being reviewed and any new information on the four murders will be acted on
He also appealed for anyone holding back on the killings to finally come forward and break their silence.
He added: “What I do believe is that taking a life must bear a significant burden on an individual. And I can only imagine that knowing about someone taking a life who hasn’t yet faced justice must also put a similar sort of burden on those people.
“If there’s anybody out there that suspects or knows or believe that someone’s responsible, tell us, let’s help you lift that burden and we’ll take action on the information that you give us.
“Please don’t sit on it. Don’t let it eat away at you. I would urge them to come forward.
“It could be that final piece in a jigsaw that gives families much needed answers, gives them justice that they and victims deserve.”
All seven victims worked Glasgow’s notorious city-centre red light district known as the Drag to feed their drug habits.
DCS Livingstone was speaking out in the latest episode of the Clyde 1 podcast Beware Book about the seven murders.
The title refers to a diary at a drop-in centre in Glasgow where women logged dangerous clients’ names.
Three men stood trial separately for the murders of Karen, Leona and Jackie but were cleared.
In Diane’s case two suspects, now dead, were arrested but the charges later dropped. The men acquitted of Karen and Jackie’s murders are also now dead.
However DCS Livingstone says that doesn’t mean the cases are closed and further investigations can still be carried out for other potential suspects
He also acknowledged the “pain and the distress” suffered by the families of the four women over the years.
The police chief added: “I’d like to actually reassure those victims and their families, we haven’t forgotten about you, or their loved ones. The obvious common factor is that unresolved status, and therefore there’s a feeling of disappointment around someone not being held accountable for their loved one’s death and ultimately brought to justice.”
DCS Livingstone also wants to improve relationships and contact with the families of the four women.
He added:”I understand that they’ll feel let down because ultimately no one has ever been convicted or held accountable for the death of their loved ones.”
DCS Livingstone highlighted the “cold case” conviction in 2019 of restaurant worker Zhi Men Chen for the 1997 murder of Tracey Wylde as an example of what can be achieved.
The young mum who was involved in prostitution was found dead in her flat in the Barmulloch area of Glasgow Chen, 44, was identified as a suspect when a DNA sample he gave to police after his arrest for another crime matched a sample found in Tracy’s flat.
Yesterday two of the four families welcomed the possibility of finally getting justice.
Alice Wilson, mother of Jackie Gallagher, said:”I just wish that this person was caught. I know it’s been a long time but somebody must know something and end this misery for me.”
Meanwhile Dolly Glover, aunt of Diane McInally, added: “I think it would put everybody at ease if they could just find somebody. You just never know. Somebody might remember something that will come to them.”
Margo Lafferty was also one of the seven murdered women.
The 27 year old’s body was found in a Glasgow city-centre lane in 1998 and a 21 year old man was convicted of her murder in 2001 following a retrial.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “If anyone has any new information that could assist in the investigation of any unresolved homicide, please contact Police via the non-emergency number 101, alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800 555 111.”
The latest episode of Beware Book is available on the Rayo app, Apple, Amazon Music and Spotify.
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