Police Scotland murder detectives hunting the bodies of Renee MacRae and Andrew have no plans to search under A9 during Scottish Government contractors’ dualling works where ‘body-shaped’ anomalies were reported during a 2006 scan

Murder detectives have no plans to investigate a stretch of the A9 where experts say the bodies of Renee and Andrew MacRae could be buried.

Scottish Government contractors Balfour Beatty began excavations and dualling work near Moy rail bridge yesterday (Monday).

When retired Inverness motor mechanic Brian MacGregor commissioned a 2006 scan under the road, a geophysicist identified a possible trench containing ‘anomalies’ consistent in size with human bodies and Andrew’s missing pram.

A decade later, a professor at Belfast Queen’s University backed up this assessment.

Mr MacGregor said he believes the roadworks could offer ‘a last window of opportunity’ to solve the 49-year mystery of where the mother and son’s bodies were hidden.

Highland News & Media (owners of the Strathy) approached Police Scotland last week to ask if we could interview the recent lead investigator in the 1976 case, Detective Superintendent Brian Geddes.

We also asked if the force could confirm that DS Geddes had promised, as Mr MacGregor claims, to probe the site once dualling work began there.

Neither of those requests drew a direct response, although we have renewed the interview request and asked for more information on what was promised and why the decision was taken to leave any possible evidence find to chance.

A Police Scotland spokesman said: “We have ongoing liaison/engagement with the contractors involved in dualling the A9, and they are fully aware of the process should they find anything that warrants further investigation during their excavations.”

Pressed on whether that meant the force would take no proactive interest in the site, the spokesman replied: “That’s correct.”

In March we revealed from sources close to the A9 dualling works that a child’s potty and length of carpet, among other items, had been removed from a site a mile from Dalmagarry layby and stored as potential evidence after discovery by a road worker.

Previous to this, detectives had briefed Balfour Beatty to be on the look-out for a list of items they might encounter, including a suitcase, pushchair, coat and a yellow child’s potty.

More than seven months later, we can confirm the police have now discounted the removed items after examination.

A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: “Enquiries have concluded and there are no links between the items found and the murders of Renee and Andrew MacRae.”