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Renee Probe Cop Dies By Laurence Ford

Inverness Courier: 30th June 2007

Inverness Courier
   
AN Inverness policeman who was one of the last living investigating officers in the Renee MacRae murder mystery has died in Highland Hospice, aged 73.
Former Detective Sergeant John Cathcart swept into the national spotlight after his retiral when his views on the unsolved disappearances of Renee MacRae and her three-year-old son Andrew were sought by local and national newspapers, radio and television.
The mystery captured the imagination of the nation, and the case has become Scotland's biggest unsolved murder investigation.
Mr Cathcart was a uniformed police sergeant in November 1976 when 36-year-old Mrs MacRae's burning BMW was discovered in a lay-by on the A9 at Dalmagarry, near Tomatin, sparking off a murder hunt which was to grip millions and reach across the world.
Following his appearance in the Grampian TV programme Unsolved: Getting Away With Murder, he was responsible for Northern Constabulary conducting a cold case review which eventually led, three years ago, to the quarry at Dalmagarry being excavated. But nothing conclusive was found.
Mr Cathcart, however, had many other strings to his bow, and as a recognised wildlife expert he played a prominent role in the lead-up to the capture of a wild puma at Cannich, the first to be caught in Scotland.
This, along with his files containing information of "big cat" sightings across the country, earned him the nickname of The Catman.
But outwith his police role, Mr Cathcart, a keen football and cricket player in his younger years, was probably best known for his consumate skill as a salmon fisherman who had that certain knack of getting an elusive fish where others had failed.
There can be few rivers throughout Scotland on which he fished that he did not enjoy a measure of success.
In his day he was a fly fisherman to be reckoned with, and wrote one of the first angling columns for the Highland News Group under the pen name Black Shrimp.
He was an expert fly-tier and tackle maker, providing flies, minnows and spinners both for friends and commercially, from his garden shed.
A staunch supporter and member of Inverness Angling Club for 60 years, one of his proudest moments occurred at the club's AGM last November when he was made an honorary life member of the organisation.
His life membership was very special to him, and brought the glint of a tear to the eye of the former case-hardened bobby who has seen more than most people in his lifetime.
That season, despite being in poor health, he was a frequent visitor to the banks of the Ness, and landed no fewer than 10 salmon from the club water.
Unfortunately, Mr Cathcart did not live to enjoy the 2007 season on his beloved river, the illness which he had fought so courageously, having returned and finally taking its toll.
He is survived by his wife Anna; sons Grigor and Paul, and their wives Moira and Sue; sisters Margaret, Isobel and Celia; step-daughters Mairi and Alison; and four grandchildren – Jennifer, Darren, Sarah and Micah

Do you have any information on the above reports. Were you the person involved, or are you aware of any more sightings in this area. We would appreciate any information that you could give us.

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