Rape accused takes ill during trial

Rape accused takes ill during trial 16/6/14

A man accused of a series of rape and sexual allegations has been taken to hospital part way during his trial.

Donald Macneil of Burnside, Daliburgh, South Uist, denies 26 charges involving rape and indecencies against 14 females - most who were children in some alleged incidents - during a 40 year period between the 1970s and 2011.

The 81-year-old, who is suffering from terminal cancer, was too ill to come to court yesterday (Mon), the jury at Glasgow High Court was told on Monday.

Judge Johnson told the jury: “Mr Macneil was removed to hospital on Friday.”

He was discharged on Sunday and there are “still investigations going on into his state of health.”

“Some time” may be required for that, she added.

The court had pre-arranged not go to sit on Tuesday for an unconnected reason so the jury was told to return on Wednesday when the court hoped “to be in a position to know what is happening,” explained the judge.

No evidence has been given since Friday morning when the court heard claims Macneil would molest two girls after giving them lifts in his van.

Last week, the jury was told he raped one girl and repeatedly attempted to rape her as well as raping another on various occasions.

Macneil denies all the charges.

The trial in front of Judge Johnson is expected to continue later.