A woman has been found guilty of the murder of a grandmother in Rutherglen, a town near Glasgow, just before the Christmas holiday. Clare Kilduff, aged 40, admitted to the crime at the High Court in Glasgow on Monday, May 18, and will await sentencing at a later date in the same court.
The victim, Ann Coll, 61, was discovered severely injured at a residence on Newfield Place in Rutherglen around 12:45 am on Friday, December 22, 2023, as reported by the Daily Record. Sadly, despite efforts to save her, Ann succumbed to her injuries at the scene.
Originally from Donegal, Ireland, Ann was a well-known figure in the local community, often spotted walking her dog Lola in the area. Following her tragic death, a thorough investigation was launched, involving the scrutiny of surveillance footage and doorbell recordings, with authorities collecting evidence from various properties.
The last known interaction with Ann was believed to be with her granddaughter, who was captured on CCTV footage inside a nearby store the day before the incident. Ann was seen entering the shop wearing a beige jacket and grey gloves in one clip, while another showed her at the checkout counter.
After an extensive search, Ann’s neighbor Clare Kilduff was eventually located and apprehended more than a month later on Friday, February 2, on charges of murder. Detective Superintendent Lynsey Watters emphasized that such acts of violence would not be tolerated in the community following Kilduff’s conviction.
Watters expressed, “The brutal and shocking nature of this attack has had a profound impact on Ann’s loved ones. While nothing can truly alleviate their grief, we hope that Kilduff’s conviction will provide some solace to the family. We extend our gratitude to the community for their cooperation during our inquiries.”
She added, “Acts of violence like this have no place in our society, and law enforcement will persist in their efforts to hold accountable those responsible for such heinous acts.”