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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Gemma Ryder

Minute's silence to be held for Skye 'shooting victim' John MacKinnon as funeral takes place

The funeral of a father-of-six who died on the Isle of Skye will take place on Saturday August 27.

John MacKinnon, 47, was pronounced dead at his home in the Teangue area following an incident at around 9.30am on August 10.

The funeral service will take place at 1pm in Kilmore Church of Scotland in Sleat, conducted by Free Church Minister Gordon Matheson. He will be laid to rest at the nearby Kilbeg Cemetery.

Numerous businesses and organisations around Armadale on the isle have pledged to observe a minute's silence out of respect for Mr MacKinnon at 11am on Saturday. Other locations will also close while he is laid to rest.

CalMac Ferries staff have asked customers and surrounding businesses to join them in the silence. They said: "Our thoughts are with John's family and all those affected by this unimaginable tragedy".

Mr MacKinnon has been described as a "loving husband, father, brother, uncle and grandfather to his family, and was a much-loved member of the community", by those that knew him.

A fundraiser set up to help his devastated family in the aftermath of the events has raised over £45,000.

Finlay Macdonald, is accused of murdering the much-loved dad by discharging a shotgun and shooting him on the body.

The 39-year-old, from Tarskavaig, is also accused of stabbing his wife Rowena, the mother of his four children, with a knife or similar instrument to her severe injury and danger of life, during the same incident on August 10.

Rowena is set to be recovering well from her injuries and a separate fundraiser has been set up to support her and family, raising almost another £25,000.

In addition, Macdonald faces another two charges of the attempted murder of local chiropractor John Don MacKenzie and his wife Fay in Dornie, Wester Ross.

It's alleged 63-year-old Fay Mackenzie was shot on the head and body to her severe injury and permanent disfigurement in the Dornie area later on the Wednesday.

Her husband, local chiropractor John Don MacKenzie, was allegedly struck by Macdonald with the shotgun repeatedly, striking him on the body to his severe injury and danger of life.

Police Scotland Chief Constable Sir Iain Livingstone praised the bravery of communities in Skye and Wester Ross, as well as officers who responded, in a Scottish Police Authority meeting today.

"This was very tragic and extremely concerning incident in a remote part of Scotland, and of course it's a very difficult time for John MacKinnon's family," he said.

"Such events are indeed very, very shocking and upsetting for that local community and indeed for the whole of Scotland.

"Our thoughts, my thoughts are with John's family and friends, and with the communities of Skye and Wester Ross.

"I pay tribute to the dignity, bravery and resilience of John's family and the wider community in that part of Scotland."

The police chief said there has been an immediate and "brave" response by local officers, as well as other emergency service responders. An inquiry by the major investigations unit into the incident is ongoing and local officers are continuing to offer support to those affected.

Macdonald has appeared at Inverness Sheriff Court in private twice since the shootings. The last appearance being on August 10.

He has made no plea, he been committed for further examination and remanded in custody. His next appearance is to be confirmed.

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