Council to review how abuser missed rehab appointments before killing partner

Glasgow City Council will review how a serial domestic abuser was able to miss rehabilitation appointments before killing his partner.

Mark Keel murdered mother-of-four Maxine Clark at her home in Riddrie in 2024.

Keel pleaded guilty to a murder charge last month and was jailed for life at the High Court in Glasgow on Tuesday.

Before Ms Clark’s death, Keel had a history of domestic abuse and was deemed to be at high risk of offending again.

Explainer

Why was serial domestic abuser allowed to leave jail to murder mum-of-four?

Mark Keel receives life sentence for the ‘cowardly and evil’ murder of Maxine Clark in a case that highlights multiple safety failures.

He was also the subject of separate non-harassment orders banning him from approaching or contacting three former partners.

Keel was referred to the Caledonian Programme, a behavioural programme run by the local authority designed to rehabilitate male perpetrators of domestic abuse.

The programme has been independently accredited, and a requirement of receiving the programme is that an individual is subject to a court order of at least two years’ duration.

However, Keel’s attendance at the Caledonian Programme was described as “sporadic”.

Following his sentencing, Glasgow City Council has said it is planning a case review examining how the serial abuser was able to miss social work appointments before killing Ms Clark.

A Glasgow City Council spokeswoman said: “We plan to carry out with our partners a case learning review to understand the circumstances of this case.”