From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Willie MacRae was a Scottish nationalist best remembered for the mystery surrounding his death.
MacRae was an active member of the Scottish National Party (SNP) and a prominent anti-nuclear campaigner. A qualified solicitor, MacRae had in fact contested the SNP leadership in 1979, coming third in a three-way contest with 52 votes to Stephen Maxwell's 117 votes and winner Gordon Wilson's 530 votes.
He was active outwith Scotland too, having served in the Royal Indian Navy becoming friendly to the campaign for independence for India. He was also the author of the maritime law code of Israel and emeritus professor in the University of Haifa. After his death a forest of 3,000 trees was planted in Israel to mark his passing.
MacRae's death is shrouded in mystery. On April 5, 1985 he was driving from Glasgow to his home in the Scottish highlands but never made it back. The next day he was found unconscious suffering from gunshot wounds, subsequently dying without ever regaining consciousness.
A handgun was later found near to where MacRae was found, said to belong to the deceased and having been fired twice. The official verdict in the inquest into his death was suicide, but many individuals refuse to believe this is the case. Many argue that in fact he was killed by the secret services due to his political activity inside the SNP, and the high profile campaigning he was involved with against nuclear dumping in Scotland, although this has never been proved.
