A search has been launched at a number of sites at the Vale of Leven Hospital in Alexandria as part of a decades-long investigation in the disappearance of a 17-year-old girl.
Mary Duncan disappeared from her home in Alexandria, West Dunbartonshire in 1976. Extensive enquiries have been carried out in an attempt to establish any information regarding her whereabouts, but no trace of her has ever been found.
When she disappeared, she left behind her baby daughter Laura, and police have said they "must consider the option that she may have come to harm".
Detective Superintendent Calum Young from West Dunbartonshire CID said: “Mary left her home at 17 years of age, with no money and has never claimed benefits, paid tax or national insurance. She also left behind her baby girl Laura, who family say she absolutely adored.
“Extensive enquiries continue in an attempt to find any indication of where Mary could be, however due to the fact that she has not been seen or heard from in 42-years, we must consider the option that she may have come to harm."
Searches at two sites at the hospital will begin today and continue for a number of weeks and an appeal has been made for minimal disturbance to the functioning hospital.
“Specialist officers will be searching a number of locations at the Vale of Leven Hospital in connection with the investigation.
“I would like to take this opportunity to remind members of the public and the media that this is still a functioning hospital and disruption must be kept to an absolute minimum. It is also vital that the search team are left to get on with this important work and any updates will be provided in due course.”
Marie Farrell, Director of Clyde Sector, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde added: “We have been working with Police Scotland on the planned excavation of a number of sites in the grounds of the Vale of Leven hospital. We would like to reassure patients that there will be no disruption to patient care as a consequence of these enquiries.”
