THE co-founder of a major music festival is fighting for his life in hospital following a shooting incident.
Jamie Gilroy, who also owns the land where the Wickerman Festival is held annually each summer at Dundrennan, near Kirkcudbright, was found at his farm in the village of East Kirkcarswell yesterday (thur).
Mr Gilroy, 66, who is married to a local councillor Patsy Gilroy was rushed to Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary with serious head injuries.
A Police Scotland spokesman said "We are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the discovery this morning of a 66-year-old man found with serious injuries at East Kirkcarswell Farm, Dundrennan, Kirkcudbright."
Mr Gilroy was treated at the farm by ambulance personnel before being taken to hospital where he is currently being treated for a serious head injury.
The Police spokesman said: "The man was taken to Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary by ambulance where he is currently being treated for a serious head injury."
CID and uniformed officers spent most of the day at the farm which is also home to the Wickerman Festival which is held over two days in July each year.
Police are not believed to be looking for anyone in connection with the incident.
One man who knows the family said: "It is a tremendous shock for everyone around here. He was very well known, not only around here but all over the country through the Wickerman Festival.
"It is a terribly thing for the family and everyone's thoughts are with them at this time."
The Wickerman Festival is often called Scotland's Alternative Music festival", the festival was started in 2001 when the festival's former artistic director Sid Ambrose took the idea to Jamie and the festival was set up in a natural amphitheatre of 120 acres of grazing land at East Kirkcarswell Farm.
On Wednesday Mr Gilroy was at a meeting of the Stewartry District Licensing Board applying for licences for next year's festival.
Mr Gilroy farmed at East Kirkcarswell Farm and normally had a stock of around 1000 ewes and more than 250 cows.
Councillor is the Conservative councillor for Dee ward and was first elected in 1999, previously serving as councillor for the former Kirkcudbright Tarff ward. In 2007, when the Conservatives formed an administration on the Council, Patsy was elected as Convener of the Council. She is now vice chairman of the audit and risk management committee on the Labour controlled council.
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