Police Scotland report enquiries in

Police Scotland report that enquiries into the circumstances surrounding the death of Kevin MacKay continue and officers are expected to be working in the village for the foreseeable future.  Two local men who had been arrested at the weekend in connection with the death appeared at Dumfries Sheriff Court on Monday and were remanded in custody.

Detective Chief Inspector Jim Kerr, the Senior Investigating Officer for the Police Scotland Major Investigations Team says “overall my officers have been met with nothing but courtesy and cooperation when carrying out their enquiries in the village.  They are aware that the community is still in a state of shock and sadness after the events of the past few weeks and as a consequence have been sensitive to this.  However, a darker side has emerged over the past 24 hours and disappointingly we have had to arrest two men in connection with allegations of threats and intimidation of witnesses in the investigation.  I want to be quite clear on this point that anyone found interfering with or making threats to anyone in the village will be dealt with in a robust manner.  The men will appear at Dumfries Sheriff Court this morning. Police Scotland will not tolerate this type of behaviour and I warn anyone else thinking about carrying out this type of conduct that they will face arrest, and be held in custody to appear in court. This is a murder enquiry and people should understand the seriousness of their actions should they attempt to interfere with the course of justice.”

Chief Inspector Steven Lowther, the local policing commander says “it is quite clear that the recent events in Ecclefechan have shaken the village to the core and local community police officers are working along side out detective colleagues to provide support and reassurance to the community over the coming weeks and months.  We have had a large police presence in the village since the weekend and this will continue until we are satisfied that the community once again feel safe and secure as they go about their day to day business.  Our focus on keeping people safe is one we will not lose sight of as we move forward working with the people in the village.”