ANTHONY HARRIGAN FROM OLD KILPATRICK SENTENCED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND SURVEILLANCE CRIMES IN DUMBARTON

In December 2016, a disturbing case involving Anthony Harrigan, a resident of Old Kilpatrick, culminated in his being sentenced to prison for serious offenses related to child exploitation and voyeurism. Harrigan, aged 45, was found guilty of possessing a large collection of indecent images of children and of recording minors in compromising situations, actions that have shocked the local community and prompted a strict legal response.

Harrigan had previously admitted to possessing a total of 2,737 images of children, a significant number of which were classified at the lowest level of severity, known as category C. However, the investigation also uncovered that he had taken or allowed the taking of indecent photographs or pseudo-photos of children between November 14, 2014, and January 17, 2016. Among these, a particularly disturbing incident was recorded on November 29, 2015, when Harrigan secretly filmed two girls under the age of 18 in a state of undress across the street from his residence in Old Kilpatrick.

The authorities revealed that the majority of the images, 2,545 in total, fell into the category C classification, indicating a lower level of severity. Nonetheless, 50 images were classified as category A, representing the most serious type of child exploitation material. The case was brought before Dumbarton Sheriff Court, where the severity of Harrigan’s actions was thoroughly examined.

During the court proceedings, defense solicitor Brian McGuire provided context about Harrigan’s background, emphasizing that he had no prior criminal record before these charges. McGuire explained that Harrigan had maintained steady employment until the allegations surfaced, which led to the loss of his job. The solicitor also highlighted that Harrigan’s personal life had been significantly affected, with a long-term relationship ending and his subsequent social withdrawal.

“He also lost his best friend as a result of that,” McGuire stated. “He turned in on himself. Rather than engaging with his family, things started to unravel. He seems to have excluded himself, living a somewhat solitary existence. He turned to alcohol and cannabis to cope.”

McGuire appealed for leniency, suggesting that a non-custodial sentence might be appropriate given Harrigan’s otherwise clean record and the circumstances. However, Sheriff Simon Pender clarified that the nature of the charges, especially the presence of the most serious category A images, warranted a custodial sentence. The sheriff emphasized the importance of protecting the public from potential harm.

Ultimately, Harrigan was sentenced to seven months in prison. Following his release, he will be subject to a three-year license, which involves strict supervision and the possibility of re-imprisonment if he breaches the conditions. Additionally, he was placed on the Sex Offenders’ Registry indefinitely, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities.

Throughout the sentencing, Harrigan showed no visible emotion and remained silent as he was led away to begin his sentence, leaving a somber impression on those present in the courtroom and highlighting the gravity of his crimes.