Bathgate community’s concern over sex offender

Feb 4 2010 West Lothian Courier

Bathgate community’s concern over sex offender

A COMMUNITY have voiced their fear after discovering a convicted sex offender is living in their street.

Luke Egan (47), who has convictions for sex attacks on women in Ireland, is living with his wife in Falside Crescent, Bathgate.

And neighbours say they are frightened after discovering he is staying in their street.

One woman who lives near Egan said local people are avoiding that part of the street when possible.

She said: “He lives at the end of the street near a park, so it’s quite dark and I know people have been saying they don’t walk past his house because they know he’s there.

“It really is a concern to think that he’s living nearby because I’ve got a young daughter.”

Local residents first became aware of Egan’s background last year and a public meeting was held in December to discuss the issue, with around 70 local people turning out to voice concerns.

However, one of the organisers of the event found himself in trouble with police for handing out leaflets giving information on Egan’s past, and the man has since been charged with breach of the peace.

But the neighbour says he was simply trying to alert his neighbours that a sex offender was living in the area.

He said: “We just wanted to make people aware of who is living next to them.

“The meeting was just to let people know, because I think they have a right to know about it.

“A lot of people didn’t know and couldn’t believe it when they were told.

“I have a family so I’m wary about letting my daughter out to play and, naturally, women are worried about him being there.”

Residents say they are especially upset by the news of Egan’s presence, because his home is only one street away from the house where it’s thought serial killer Peter Tobin murdered Vicki Hamilton.

The male neighbour added: “We feel we’ve been through enough.

“It’s bad enough to think that Peter Tobin used to live nearby, but having a sex offender living near you is frightening.

“What we are really hoping is that a for sale sign will go up soon and he’ll just move away.”

Lothian and Borders Police confirmed a man has been charged with breach of the peace in relation to handing out leaflets, but they would not comment on Egan.