Wick River death ‘not suspicious’
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
POLICE yesterday remained keen to trace two men seen near where a young father was found dead in Wick at the weekend.
Officers are continuing their inquiries into the death of William McGough, whose body was recovered from the river near his flat on Saturday morning.
Detectives launched a full-scale investigation, with searches along the riverbank in bins and in the garden of the 30-year-old’s home in Victoria Place.
Door-to-door inquiries were also carried out as part of the probe by officers of the specialist crime division of the force’s major inquiry team north.
Victoria Place was cordoned off on Saturday while police forced their way into the flat, which overlooks the riverbank. The death was then classed as "unexplained".
An appeal was launched on Monday evening for two men seen walking along Victoria Place on Friday evening.
But yesterday Northern Constabulary confirmed the investigation had been significantly scaled down.
A spokeswoman said: "Our inquiries are still continuing into the circumstances of the death but we can confirm that we are not treating it as suspicious."
Mr McGough’s body was spotted in the river near his home by a passer-by at 6.30 on Saturday morning. After it was recovered, police cordoned off the area so forensic investigators could undertake a search.
The police spokeswoman said the results of the postmortem examination being conducted in Inverness were still awaited.
She added: "We are still keen to speak to two men who were in the area around 8.10 on Friday night and who may have stopped for a short time beside the Salvation Army Hall."
Mr McGough moved to the town from Glenrothes, in Fife, and lived with his older brother Simon. He had a three-year-old son Corey, who lives with his mother Jade Campbell in Wick.
Tributes were paid to Mr McGough on his Facebook site, where friends and family paid their respects to a man who described himself on his social network site as a 6’5" Fifer living in Wick.
Maria Dempster wrote: "Rip William, thoughts are with your family and your gorgeous wee boy, sleep tight pal.
Michelle Webster wrote: "Can’t believe you’re gone, you’ll always be my best friend. My BFG."
Steven Davidson also paid his respects by writing: "Rest in peace Willie mate. Sad loss."
The Salvation Army, whose hall adjoins Mr McGough’s flat held special prayers for him and his family during their Palm Sunday service.
Lieutenant Alex Wood yesterday said their sympathies were with the dead man’s family on what he said must be an extremely difficult time for them.
"We did not know the gentleman but during our service on Sunday we said special prayers for him and his family," he said.
"We co-operated with the police by allowing them to use our facilities while investigations were taking place all day on Saturday, but the majority of them were gone by Sunday."
The cordons were taken down on Monday by officers, who are trying to establish Mr McGough’s final movements and are keen to hear from anyone who was in the Victoria Lane area of Wick between six on Friday evening and 6.30 on Saturday morning and who may have seen anything of note.
Police described him as being of slim build and wearing a light-coloured jacket, dark tracksuit bottoms and a dark baseball cap. Anyone with information is urged to contact police in Wick on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
