My name is Patrick Docherty, i am 43 years old. I was born in Irvine Central Hospital and am the oldest of 4 siblings. I have 2 younger sisters and 1 younger brother. I am named after my father, although i don't remember him. Iwas brought up in the Kilmarnock area by my mum Elizabeth. I attened Hillhead Primary in Kilmarnock, and later attended Grange Academy, alsoin Kilmarnock. I was hard growing up in a single parent family with no father figure to influence me. By the time i started secondary school, i was getting into trouble with the law. Six weeks after starting secondary school, i was put away for the first time by a children's panel. Since then i have spent most of my life in and out of prison; something i'm not proud of. I went from children's home to Bostel, to Young Offenders, and then to Prison when i reached the age of 21. Mum brought us up to the best of her ability, and with alotof love and care. Iwas a difficult child for my mum, but she tried her best with me; but i wanted more. I wanted the same toys and possessions all the other kids had. Mum couldn't always afford this, so i started my life of crime to pay for things myself.
When i was in doing a sentence in the year 1990, i met Liz. Liz and myself already knew each other. From there we started to write to each other. Liz also started to visit me. We got together on my release in the year of 1992 and i then moved in with Liz and her kids. For three-and-a-half years i had a stable life. Liz kept me out of trouble, which was good for me, as before meeting Liz, i was constantly in trouble with the law. Liz already had four kids when we met, and we then had our own daughter together in 1993. Being part of a loving family kept me on the straight and narrow for four years. In 1996, Liz and i split up. I moved back to the Kilmarnock area, and before long i was back in and out of trouble and doing sentence after sentence. This continued up until 2003. I was released in August of that year, but just twelve weeks later my world fell apart, and came crashing down all around me. On October 31st, 2003, i was charged along with Brendan Dixon for the murder of a 93 year old woman.
This is a crime i did not commit. Myself and Brendan have never hung about with each other, although we do know each other.
We spent from November 3rd 2003, until January 6th 2004 on remand, charged with this despicable crime. On January 6th, 2004, the crown decided, due to unforseen circumstances they no longer apposed bail. Therefore, we were immediately released after appearing at Kilmarrnock Court.
The unforseen circumstances the Crown spoke of, were all the results of the forensic examinations of the crime scene. There was no match for Brendan Dixon or I. Therefore we were released on bail.
The trial started on January 28th 2005. While i was on bail, i got in contact with Liz; we then got back together. I told Liz all about my forth-coming trial. Our Lawyers didn't think it would go to trial as there was no evidence against us. Nor, did we think we would be found guilty of this dispicable crime. I'm no angel and have been in and out of trouble all of my life. But i did not commit this crime. We were convicted on the words of various witnesses, themselves no stanger to the police. During the trial i got joined minutes signed proving witnesses were lying about me. There was another joined minute signed for myself and Brendan Dixon and Colin Miller, proving that the forensics and DNA did not belong to any of us.
Getting this 25 year sentence just three months after getting back with Elizabeth and the kids was truely devastating. Firstly as i did not commit the crime; secondly as i had just got back into Liz and the kids lives. If i thought for a moment that i would have been convicted, i wouldn't have got back with the kids and Liz. Because now, Liz and the kids are suffering this nightmare just as much as i am. I have been in nearly four years and have lost all these years of my familys life. It breks my heart not knowing when i will get back home to them again. If it was not for Liz and my kids, i would have given up on my life when i was convicted. But i havn't. And i'm not going to. Knowing Liz and the kids are out there standing by me, gives me the strength and courage i need to carry on. My name will be cleared, as i did not commit this crime.
Liz and i got married on 27th April 2007. Not an ideal start to married life, with me in prison. Liz believes in my innocence, as do my kids and family. Together we will fight on, and hopefully succeed in clearing my name.
The love of my wife and family, and hope are all i have, because my life was taken from me on February 17th 2005, when i got this 25 year sentence. At my darkest times, i sometimes think they have took my life away from me, so i may aswell give them it physically. I don't have a life in here, then i think of my wife and kids and the fact that i'm an innocent man. That spurs me on to carry on. Ending my life would be the easy way out, but others might see it as a sign of guilt. As i am an innocent man i will not give my life up that easy, no matter how hard it gets, or how long it takes to prove my innocence.
Saturday, 30 August 2008
Patricks Where Abouts.
On Friday 26th September 2003.
I was in my house at Knowehead Road, Hurlford till about 1.30pm.Then I left to go to Kilmarnock to visit my mum and Tam in Union Street Kilmarnock.I stayed there with them till 6.15. That's when I got the bus back to Hurlford. I met Alison my ex girlfriends daughter on the bus. We both arrived home about 6.45pm my ex girlfriend, her daughter Alison and myself went over to our friends house, who lived accross the road. We all stayed at the friends house until about 11pm. We then went back across the road to our house together.
On Sat 27th September 2003
I left the house at about 11.30 am with Alison to go cash her mum's giro at Hurlford Post Office. We arrived back at the house about 12 oclock. Alison, her mum and myself then left to get a bus to go to Kilmarnock. It was about 1 o'clock when we got the bus.When we arrived in Kilmarnock, Alison and her mum went shopping. I went to visit some friends.While I was there I recieved a text from Alison. Alisons mum was going to babysit a friends daughter. She collected her as she was going to have the wee girl for the weekend.I left my friends house and went to see my mum and Tam. I was with them till i got the bus at 6.15 back to Hurlford.I arrived in Hurlford at 6.40pm and made my way home. Alison, her mum and the two year old girl were in the house. At 7pm we all went across the road to visit our friend again.At about 10pm I left our friends to take the wee 2 year old back to our house as she was tired.Alison and her mum stayed at our friends house till abot 12pm then they came home.Alison, her mum and myself stayed up talking till about 1.30am then we all went to our beds.
Sunday 28th September 2003
I was wakened about 8am by someone at the door. I got up and answered the door. It was a friend of Alison and her mum's.She left about 10am to get a bus to Kilmarnock as she said she had her work at 11am. I went to get rolls and a paper from the shop at the end of the street.When I got back from the shop 10 minutes later, Alison was just coming down the stairs.Prior to this it was only me, Alisons mum and the wee girl who was up.Alison and her mum went across to give our friends son his birthday card and present from us all.I stayed in our house with the wee girl. I was in the house all day apart from the 10 mins in the morning when I went to the shop
Monday 29th September 2003.
I got the bus into Kilmarnock about 9-10am.
This is my true account of my whereabouts that weekend.
Patrick Docherty
I was in my house at Knowehead Road, Hurlford till about 1.30pm.Then I left to go to Kilmarnock to visit my mum and Tam in Union Street Kilmarnock.I stayed there with them till 6.15. That's when I got the bus back to Hurlford. I met Alison my ex girlfriends daughter on the bus. We both arrived home about 6.45pm my ex girlfriend, her daughter Alison and myself went over to our friends house, who lived accross the road. We all stayed at the friends house until about 11pm. We then went back across the road to our house together.
On Sat 27th September 2003
I left the house at about 11.30 am with Alison to go cash her mum's giro at Hurlford Post Office. We arrived back at the house about 12 oclock. Alison, her mum and myself then left to get a bus to go to Kilmarnock. It was about 1 o'clock when we got the bus.When we arrived in Kilmarnock, Alison and her mum went shopping. I went to visit some friends.While I was there I recieved a text from Alison. Alisons mum was going to babysit a friends daughter. She collected her as she was going to have the wee girl for the weekend.I left my friends house and went to see my mum and Tam. I was with them till i got the bus at 6.15 back to Hurlford.I arrived in Hurlford at 6.40pm and made my way home. Alison, her mum and the two year old girl were in the house. At 7pm we all went across the road to visit our friend again.At about 10pm I left our friends to take the wee 2 year old back to our house as she was tired.Alison and her mum stayed at our friends house till abot 12pm then they came home.Alison, her mum and myself stayed up talking till about 1.30am then we all went to our beds.
Sunday 28th September 2003
I was wakened about 8am by someone at the door. I got up and answered the door. It was a friend of Alison and her mum's.She left about 10am to get a bus to Kilmarnock as she said she had her work at 11am. I went to get rolls and a paper from the shop at the end of the street.When I got back from the shop 10 minutes later, Alison was just coming down the stairs.Prior to this it was only me, Alisons mum and the wee girl who was up.Alison and her mum went across to give our friends son his birthday card and present from us all.I stayed in our house with the wee girl. I was in the house all day apart from the 10 mins in the morning when I went to the shop
Monday 29th September 2003.
I got the bus into Kilmarnock about 9-10am.
This is my true account of my whereabouts that weekend.
Patrick Docherty
Observations.
Saturday, Aug 30, 2008
Mrs Irvine was seen by a carer between 7am and 7.30am on the morning of her death. She was found dead at 4.50pm by another carer.Over EIGHT hours had passed from breakfast till Mrs Irvine was found dead. That is a long time to leave someone who is so elderly. Who was meant to be going into give her lunch and why didn’t they?Mrs Irvine had told her carer to leave the door unlocked to allow other persons to enter the house. Who else was Mrs Irvine expecting?A neighbour said she saw a man of around 5ft 10 to 5ft 11 in Mrs Irvine’s kitchen about 10am. She heard him shout, “are you there?”Who did she think it was? Because if this did not concern her then it must have been someone whom she thought should be there?
Mrs Irvine was seen by a carer between 7am and 7.30am on the morning of her death. She was found dead at 4.50pm by another carer.Over EIGHT hours had passed from breakfast till Mrs Irvine was found dead. That is a long time to leave someone who is so elderly. Who was meant to be going into give her lunch and why didn’t they?Mrs Irvine had told her carer to leave the door unlocked to allow other persons to enter the house. Who else was Mrs Irvine expecting?A neighbour said she saw a man of around 5ft 10 to 5ft 11 in Mrs Irvine’s kitchen about 10am. She heard him shout, “are you there?”Who did she think it was? Because if this did not concern her then it must have been someone whom she thought should be there?
Proven Facts. (plus trial)
Patrick Docherty Is Willing To Take A Lie Detector Test.
The Case Was Based On Hearsay From Third Parties.
There Was DNA Found that was not linked to Brendan Or Patrick
There Was A Footprint found that couldn't be linked to Patrick or Brendan
The Trial:
On Tuesday March 1st 2005, At Kilmarnock High Court Brendan Dixon And Patrick Docherty Were Both Found Guilty Of The Murder Of Margaret Irvine.
Both Men Were Given Life Sentences For A Crime That They Did Not Commit.
Colin Miller [The Third Accused Was Found Not Proven].
There Was No Evidence In The Case.
The Case Was Based On Hearsay And Circumstancial Evidence.
The Police Recovered DNA And Footprints From The Murder Scene That Do Not Belong To Any Of The Accused.
A Number Of Key Witnesses, Who Are No Strangers To Police Had Themselves Been Questioned About The Murder.
Several Of These Witnesses Against Patrick Were Proven in Court To Have Lied While Giving Evidence.
The Murder:
On Sunday September 28th 2003, 91 Year Old Galston Woman Margaret Irvine Was Murdered. She Was Found By Her Carer At 4.50 PM She Had Been Gagged And Had Hands Tied Behind Her Back With A Belt.
The Cause Of Death Was Asphyixia, Due To Her Choking On The Duster That Had Been Placed In Her Mouth.
.
Mrs Irvine Was Last Seen Alive At 7.OO AM By The Carer Who Came In To Make Her Breakfast.
She Instructed The Carer To Leave The Door Unlocked To Enable Others To Gain Entry.
Mrs Irvine Was Described As Been Mentally Alert Although She Was Housebound.
On October 31st 2003, Brendan Dixon And Patrick Docherty Were Both Charged With The Murder Of Margaret Irvine.
Colin Miller Was Charged Almost A Year Later.
The Original Suspect However Was Colin Miller, Who Met Brendan Dixon In Kilmarnock HMP, (Colin Miller Was In For A Week For Non-Payment Of Fines And Brendan Dixon Was In For Smashing His Ex-Girlfriends Windows);
Colin Miller Was Attacked By Cons Whilst In Prison For His Part In The Murder.Brendan Dixon Tries To Reassure Him By Telling Him The Police Were Also Putting Him And Patrick Docherty Forward As Suspects And Many Other Known Criminals, As Soon As He Got Released From Prison
.
COLIN MILLLER went to the police and made a 3rd statement, Only this time he says he saw BRENDAN DIXON and PATRICK DOCHERTY in Catherine Drive, which he changes in a 4th statement to seeing them outside Mrs Irvines house.
COLIN MILLER then becomes the cheif witnesses, that is, until almost a year later when the PF realises that COLIN MILLER couldn't have seen anyone from where he states, and eventually after ten months is charged with Mrs Irvines murder but only after being the only witness to see BRENDAN DIXON and PATRICK DOCHERTY at the scene of crime
.
Colin Miller Was The Only Witness That Claimed To Have Seen Brendan And Patrick Near The Scene On The Morning Of The Murder.
It Was Proven In Court That Colin Miller Could Not Have Seen Brendan Or Patrick From The Location That He Claimed To Have Been At.
Colin MIiller Was The Only Person Spotted Near The Scene That Morning.
A Neighbour Of Mrs Irvine, Stated In Court That She Was Up Early That Sunday Morning. She Looked Of Her Window And Seen Collin Miller Three Times, At 6.00 AM , 6.40 AM, And Again At 7.00 AM.
However Witnesses For Colin Miller Stated In Court That He Spent The Saturday Night At Their House. They Stated That He Did Not Leave Their House Until 7.50 AM On The Morning Of The Murder.
Later That Morning Collin Miller Was At Another Friends House. After Racieving A Text Message, Around 10 AM Collin Miller Went Outside To Make A Phone Call. Shortly After He Returned To The House, He Was In A Rage And Hit His Friend On The Head And Face With A Hammer.
.
Another Neighbour Of Mrs Irvine Stated In Court, "At Around 10AM She Heard A Male Voice Shouting Are You There?"
She Looked Out Her Window And Seen A Male From The Back Standing In The Kitchen Of The Murder Scene.
She Also Stated That She Noticed A Male Stranger Passing By
Brendan And Patrick Had Seperate Alibis To State That They Were Nowhere Near The Galston Area On The Morning Of Sunday 28th September 2003, When Mrs Irvine Was Murdered.
No Justice Has Been Done For Margaret Irvine Or Her Family.
Galston Is A Small Community; And The Murderer Or Murderers Of Margaret Irvine Must Be Known To Someone In The Area.
The Case Was Based On Hearsay From Third Parties.
There Was DNA Found that was not linked to Brendan Or Patrick
There Was A Footprint found that couldn't be linked to Patrick or Brendan
The Trial:
On Tuesday March 1st 2005, At Kilmarnock High Court Brendan Dixon And Patrick Docherty Were Both Found Guilty Of The Murder Of Margaret Irvine.
Both Men Were Given Life Sentences For A Crime That They Did Not Commit.
Colin Miller [The Third Accused Was Found Not Proven].
There Was No Evidence In The Case.
The Case Was Based On Hearsay And Circumstancial Evidence.
The Police Recovered DNA And Footprints From The Murder Scene That Do Not Belong To Any Of The Accused.
A Number Of Key Witnesses, Who Are No Strangers To Police Had Themselves Been Questioned About The Murder.
Several Of These Witnesses Against Patrick Were Proven in Court To Have Lied While Giving Evidence.
The Murder:
On Sunday September 28th 2003, 91 Year Old Galston Woman Margaret Irvine Was Murdered. She Was Found By Her Carer At 4.50 PM She Had Been Gagged And Had Hands Tied Behind Her Back With A Belt.
The Cause Of Death Was Asphyixia, Due To Her Choking On The Duster That Had Been Placed In Her Mouth.
.
Mrs Irvine Was Last Seen Alive At 7.OO AM By The Carer Who Came In To Make Her Breakfast.
She Instructed The Carer To Leave The Door Unlocked To Enable Others To Gain Entry.
Mrs Irvine Was Described As Been Mentally Alert Although She Was Housebound.
On October 31st 2003, Brendan Dixon And Patrick Docherty Were Both Charged With The Murder Of Margaret Irvine.
Colin Miller Was Charged Almost A Year Later.
The Original Suspect However Was Colin Miller, Who Met Brendan Dixon In Kilmarnock HMP, (Colin Miller Was In For A Week For Non-Payment Of Fines And Brendan Dixon Was In For Smashing His Ex-Girlfriends Windows);
Colin Miller Was Attacked By Cons Whilst In Prison For His Part In The Murder.Brendan Dixon Tries To Reassure Him By Telling Him The Police Were Also Putting Him And Patrick Docherty Forward As Suspects And Many Other Known Criminals, As Soon As He Got Released From Prison
.
COLIN MILLLER went to the police and made a 3rd statement, Only this time he says he saw BRENDAN DIXON and PATRICK DOCHERTY in Catherine Drive, which he changes in a 4th statement to seeing them outside Mrs Irvines house.
COLIN MILLER then becomes the cheif witnesses, that is, until almost a year later when the PF realises that COLIN MILLER couldn't have seen anyone from where he states, and eventually after ten months is charged with Mrs Irvines murder but only after being the only witness to see BRENDAN DIXON and PATRICK DOCHERTY at the scene of crime
.
Colin Miller Was The Only Witness That Claimed To Have Seen Brendan And Patrick Near The Scene On The Morning Of The Murder.
It Was Proven In Court That Colin Miller Could Not Have Seen Brendan Or Patrick From The Location That He Claimed To Have Been At.
Colin MIiller Was The Only Person Spotted Near The Scene That Morning.
A Neighbour Of Mrs Irvine, Stated In Court That She Was Up Early That Sunday Morning. She Looked Of Her Window And Seen Collin Miller Three Times, At 6.00 AM , 6.40 AM, And Again At 7.00 AM.
However Witnesses For Colin Miller Stated In Court That He Spent The Saturday Night At Their House. They Stated That He Did Not Leave Their House Until 7.50 AM On The Morning Of The Murder.
Later That Morning Collin Miller Was At Another Friends House. After Racieving A Text Message, Around 10 AM Collin Miller Went Outside To Make A Phone Call. Shortly After He Returned To The House, He Was In A Rage And Hit His Friend On The Head And Face With A Hammer.
.
Another Neighbour Of Mrs Irvine Stated In Court, "At Around 10AM She Heard A Male Voice Shouting Are You There?"
She Looked Out Her Window And Seen A Male From The Back Standing In The Kitchen Of The Murder Scene.
She Also Stated That She Noticed A Male Stranger Passing By
Brendan And Patrick Had Seperate Alibis To State That They Were Nowhere Near The Galston Area On The Morning Of Sunday 28th September 2003, When Mrs Irvine Was Murdered.
No Justice Has Been Done For Margaret Irvine Or Her Family.
Galston Is A Small Community; And The Murderer Or Murderers Of Margaret Irvine Must Be Known To Someone In The Area.
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