14 January – TheCrown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service formal requests Dutch authorities to extradite William Beggs back to Scotland. A warrant for the arrest of Beggs was issued by Strathclyde Police in December 1999 over the murder of Barry Wallace, an 18 year old fromKilmarnock who went missing after a night out with colleagues whose body parts were later discovered inLoch Lomond andTroon.[2]
26 January – a tribunal grants the release of a school playground killer, Barbara Glover, who was ordered to be detained without limit of time for the 1991 murder of Diane Watson.[3]
29 February – Barry Wallace, the 18 year old fromKilmarnock who was mutilated and murdered by William Beggs, 36, in December 1999, is laid to rest at Grassyards Ceremony in Kilmarnock, 87 days after he was reported missing.[5]
30 May – TheKeep the Clause campaign funded byBrian Souter holds a referendum across Scotland to gauge public opinion onSection 28. 3,970,712 ballot papers were posted out and 31.8% valid votes were returned, a turnout rate lower than any Scottish national election. 86.8% were in favour of keeping Clause 28, 13.2% in favour of repeal.
26 September – The Supreme Court of the Netherlands rule that William Beggs should be extradited back to Scotland. The issue is later passed to the Dutch Government's justice minister for consideration.[2]
22 November – The legal team for William Beggs launches an appeal against the extradition trial of Beggs, claiming that the significant media coverage in Scotland will prevent Beggs from having a fair trial.[2]
21 December –Falkirk West by-election results inEric Joyce retaining the UK parliament seat for Labour, though with a majority reduced to just 705 votes in the face of a swing of 16.2% to the SNP.
