Cat killer battered

Published 30 Jun 2010 13:45

By Ewan McInnes

A CONVICTED cat killer was seriously assaulted at the weekend, suffering severe injuries.

Warped Anthony Docherty was attacked in Barrhead at 8.15pm on Friday night, however it is unknown whether the attack was related to his conviction for killing and torturing cats.

He was taken to hospital where he was treated for his injuries, thought to be a broken jaw.

A police source told the News that no arrests have yet been made and enquiries into the incidents are still ongoing.

One Barrhead cat owner was saddened to hear Docherty had been assaulted, but said she had been worried for her pets since the day she heard he had moved to the town.

She added: "I wouldn't say violence is the best way to deal with [Docherty] being housed in Barrhead, but we never heard in full detail what he did to those poor cats.

"What was reported in the papers was meant to be the tip of the iceberg and that sounded bad enough.

"Maybe now he knows what it feels like to be abused for no reason."

Another concerned resident reckons Docherty should have moved away from the area and started a life elsewhere.

He said: "That man should never have been given a house in Barrhead.

"Too many people were disgusted with what he did and what happened outside the court when he was found guilty of killing those cats should have shown the council how people felt about it.

"In saying that I don't think it is right to go about attacking people who are clearly not well."

In March, residents were up in arms when it was revealed that Docherty was to be rehoused in Barrhead after he had served time for killing three cats and abusing others in nearby Clarkston.

However, East Renfrewshire Council has a responsibility to rehouse Docherty and since there is a lack of council housing in Clarkston housing bosses insist Barrhead was their only option.

A council spokesman said: "The council has a responsibility to house a resident presented as homeless and carefully assess that individual and the community's needs."

Tweet

This article appeared in Barrhead News 30 Jun 10

Follow @barrheadnews

Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our News archives.