January 2012

Child rapist dies in prison

A man who repeatedly raped two young girls has been found dead in prison.

Peter Ireland was jailed for nine years in 2007 for the abuse which began when the girls were aged three and six.

He began to rape them regularly when they each reached the age of 12

The 50-year-old died at Peterhead prison on Monday.

Grampian Police have been notified about his death and a report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal.

Ireland, originally from Dumfries, admitted the abuse which happened in Edinburgh, Sanquhar, Ullapool and Dumfries between 1990 and 2003.

The sexual abuse came to light when one of his victims wrote a letter to Ireland saying she had told the police about what he had done.