A murderer who planned to rent out his flat while he serves at least 28 years in jail has been banned from acting as a landlord.

The GlasgowLive news website reports that Finlay MacDonald was sentenced to life imprisonment in December for murdering his brother-in-law and attempting to kill his wife and two other people.

MacDonald wanted to let his flat for the duration of his imprisonment and return to it after his release.

But the city’s licensing and regulatory committee rejected his appropriateness to serve as a landlord. 

A representative with power of attorney to act for MacDonald told the committee that the murderer would have no contact with the tenants if he was allowed to be registered as a private landlord, saying: “I can’t see any harm to the city to allow the let to continue as it is.”

It was stated to the committee that the property would be managed by a lettings agent, but MacDonald’s application was rejected for at least three years.