ALEXANDER MILLAR'S FAILED BID FOR FREEDOM IN GLASGOW: FAMILY REACTS WITH DISTRESS AND DETERMINATION
In a significant development that has once again brought the tragic case of Alexander Millar into the public eye, the notorious double child killer has been denied the opportunity to be released into the community after nearly four decades of strict confinement.Millar, who was responsible for the brutal murders of siblings John, aged 13, and Irene McMonigle, aged 12, in 1976, faced a mental health tribunal that ultimately decided against lifting his restriction orders, ensuring he remains in secure care.
Millar’s heinous crime shocked Scotland and the wider public when it occurred in Govan, Glasgow.
He entered the children’s home with the intent to steal a television but instead committed a series of violent acts that would haunt the nation for years to come.
After tying up the young siblings, gagging them, and beating them to death with a hammer, Millar fled the scene.
The bodies of John and Irene were discovered by their sister Liz, who was only nine years old at the time, and her father, shortly after the murders.
Following the crime, Millar was detained at the High Court in May 1976, where he was ordered to be held without a fixed time limit.
It was revealed that he had previously gone missing from psychiatric hospitals on twenty occasions before the murders, highlighting a troubling pattern of instability.
During the trial, he was charged with murder but admitted culpable homicide on the grounds of diminished responsibility.
Judge Lord Wheatley expressed concern that Millar could reoffend if released, emphasizing the danger he posed to society.
For nearly 30 years, Millar was confined at the State Hospital at Carstairs, a secure psychiatric facility.
More recently, he was transferred to a less restrictive unit in Ayrshire, where he has been participating in rehabilitation programs, including work placements and community integration efforts.
Despite these measures, the families of the victims remain deeply opposed to his release.
In July, Millar was seen participating in a gardening project at the Lochside estate in Ayr, an activity organized by a group dedicated to offender rehabilitation.
This appearance sparked outrage among the victims’ family members, who have a Facebook page with over 16,000 supporters calling for him to remain in secure care.
The family’s grief remains raw, with John McMonigle, the father of the murdered children, expressing his pain: “I remember it as if it was yesterday.
We will never forget it and never get over it.
He has brought unbelievable suffering to our family.” Most recently, in May 2013, Millar had planned to apply for release but withdrew his bid after Liz McMonigle, the sister of the victims, publicly shared her heartbreaking account of the crime.
She stated, “We are satisfied that he will remain where he is at least for now.
But, as family and friends, we can’t comprehend why anyone would consider moving him back into the community.” Millar’s case continues to evoke strong emotions, with the victims’ family members expressing their ongoing distress and opposition.
John McMonigle, now 77, and Liz, 48, have made it clear that they will continue to fight against any future attempts to release Millar, emphasizing the lasting trauma inflicted by his actions.
The community and advocacy groups remain vigilant, with campaigns such as “Keep Alexander Millar Locked Away” gaining support from those who believe justice has yet to be fully served.
The decision by the tribunal underscores the ongoing debate about rehabilitation, public safety, and justice for the victims of one of Scotland’s most infamous crimes.
