John Gallagher, former Peterhead prison riot ringleader, dies of lung cancer

John Gallagher, the 72‑year‑old convicted murderer who led the notorious 1984 Peterhead prison rooftop siege, died in Inverness’s Raigmore Hospital on 2 February 2024 after a prolonged battle with metastatic squamous‑cell lung cancer. The sheriff’s inquiry concluded that his death was solely due to his medical condition and not related to his custody.

Gallagher had a history of severe health issues, including childhood tuberculosis, a chest injury in 2015, chronic kidney disease and atrial fibrillation, before his cancer diagnosis in late 2023. He was hospitalized in December 2023, released, and readmitted in January 2024 before passing away surrounded by his wife and daughter.