Alness knifepoint siege sparked armed response from cops
Armed police and specialist officers from the Central Belt rushed to a siege in Easter Ross when a 24-year-old man claimed he had a firearm and was holding a hostage at knifepoint.
The drama began in the evening of November 15 last year at a property in Westford, Alness after police officers were called to a disturbance involving Patrick Muldoon, who had just been released from prison, and his girlfriend.
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Also in the house was another man, Liam Stewart and although the girlfriend emerged from the door into the safety of police, Mr Stewart remained and Muldoon then locked the door, shouting: "Let's go. It's a f...ing siege."
Inverness Sheriff Court heard that then began a stand-off lasting several hours when Muldoon eventually gave himself up.
Fiscal depute Alison Young told Sheriff Gary Aitken that Muldoon was acting erratically as if under the influence of drink or drugs and threatened to stab anyone who entered the property.
"He then grabbed Mr Stewart and again shouted: "I have a hostage. If police come in the door, I will stab him and the police."
The hostage confirmed to officers that he was unable to escape.
Mrs Young went on: "The accused held a knife to Liam Stewart's throat and said: 'I have control, he is going nowhere.' He also shouted out the window at the girlfriend saying that he would murder her and that he had a firearm.
"As a result it was declared a firearms incident and the Armed Response Unit was dispatched to the scene along with specialist officers from Glasgow."
Mrs Young added that as the hours passed, Muldoon demanded a helicopter fly him to London as negotiators tried to resolve the situation. Muldoon also threw items including furniture out of the building and was being aggressive towards the specialist officers before the siege ended about 5am, Mrs Young concluded.
Muldoon admitted a charge of threatening behaviour and assault and abduction.
Sentence was deferred until March 11 for a background report on Muldoon who was again remanded in custody to Barlinnie Prison.
