Convicted rapist Patrick Rae has been sentenced to life imprisonment for a minimum of 20 years after being found guilty of raping and murdering Dundee mum Mary McLaren while on the run from the Irish police for another alleged sexual attack.
The jury of eight men and seven women took two-and-a-half hours to return their majority verdict that Rae brutally attacked and killed the mother of three on an embankment near the Ladywell roundabout on North Marketgait on February 25, 2010.
Gasps of “Yes” came from Mary’s family in court, including her husband Scott, mother Margaret, Mary’s pregnant daughter Sarah-Jane and her sisters Michelle Rodger and Lisa Hendry.
Lord Tyre told Rae the sentence for murder was mandatory life imprisonment, which would run from March 16 2010, when he was remanded in custody.
He said the punishment period was a minimum of 20 years and that period reflected the necessary retribution and his previous offences, which included rape.
He said Rae had preyed on a woman who was already the worse for drink and had attached himself to her when she was left alone after the arrest of her sister.
Rae had been seen walking the streets of Dundee with Mary and the last image of her alive was captured on CCTV near the Ladywell Roundabout. It was to be two weeks before Mary’s body was found.
Lord Tyre told Rae, “Shortly afterwards you viciously raped and strangled her, leaving her body to be found later,” he said.
“Since then you have persistently lied about your involvement in the murder and have attempted to adapt your story to fit the evidence.
“You have shown no remorse for what you have done and the horror and terror Mary McLaren must have experienced during this attack can only be imagined.”
Lord Tyre said the 20-year punishment period was the minimum he could expect to serve behind bars before being considered for release on licence, and told Rae he would be placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.
Rae (41) smirked as he left the dock, while Mary’s mother Margaret had to be helped from the public benches in obvious distress.
Following the verdict, the family released a statement, which described the “pain and grief” the family still feel and the nightmares they still experience over Mary’s ordeal at the hands of her evil killer.See Saturday’s print edition of The Courier for the reaction from Mary McLaren’s family, that of the chief investigator, an examination of motives behind Rae’s crime, a full examination of all evidence in the case, and in-depth background information.