One of Scotland’s most notorious killers sentenced to life for knifing a young Celtic fan has been moved from Noranside open prison near Forfar over fears for his safety.
Jason Campbell (37) has been transferred to HMP Shotts in Lanarkshire amid fears a contract has been taken out on his life.
Campbell, who has family ties to the Ulster Volunteer Force, is preparing for his release.
A Scottish Prison Service spokeswoman said the agency would not comment on individual cases.
However, it has been reported prison bosses had information Campbell was in danger.
The killer slashed the throat of 16-year-old Mark Scott in an unprovoked attack in Glasgow in 1995 because he was wearing a Celtic shirt.
Campbell received a life sentence with a minimum tariff of 14 years, after which the prison service automatically prepares prisoners for possible parole by carrying out risk assessment, and organising community placements and home visits.
While at Shotts jail previously, before moving to Noranside, he was let out three times a week to work in a community centre in an Edinburgh housing scheme.
Mark, the son of a leading corporate lawyer, had watched Celtic’s 2-1 win over Partick Thistle at Celtic Park.SectarianAs he walked home with two friends along London Road they were subjected to sectarian abuse from Rangers fans standing outside a pub.
Campbell ran up behind Mark, who was wearing a Celtic top, and slashed his throat.
The murder was witnessed by fans, women out shopping with their children and people in cars and buses.
After the killing Campbell sprinted to his home just a few hundred yards away, where the family was having a party for his nephew’s 12th birthday.
He quickly showered and changed, then left, travelling later that night to stay with friends in Greenock.
During the first hours after the incident police received at least 50 telephone calls naming Campbell as the killer.
It was revealed during his trial that Campbell had a previous conviction for carrying a knife.
His defence QC Donald Findlay suggested Campbell had originally intended just to slash his victim.
The case triggered a political row years later when Campbell requested to be transferred as a “political prisoner” to Belfast’s Maze prison on account of his UVF connections.
It was vetoed by then First Minister Donald Dewar.
In June 1979 his father Colin Campbell and an uncle, William “Big Bill” Campbell, were among a group sentenced for bombing two Glasgow pubs and a criminal conspiracy to gather arms and explosives for the UVF.