KILLER Theresa Riggi is being moved from Cornton Vale to a top psychiatric hospital following a string of vicious attacks on her.
The 47-year-old is being pulled out of the notoriously tough jail after she was slashed in the face by an inmate last month.
Staff at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital have been briefed on Riggi’s case and are expecting her arrival in the coming days.
Riggi, who was examined following the killing of her three children, was found to have suffered from narcissistic, paranoid and histrionic personality disorder.
The American was closely monitored after the deaths of her children in the Orchard Clinic at the Royal Edinburgh.
A devout Catholic, Riggi was visited by Cardinal Keith O’Brien while undergoing treatment in the mental health clinic.
A Scottish Prison Service spokesman said it would not comment on individual prisoners and would not give a reason for the transfer.
An NHS Lothian spokeswoman said the health board was also unable to comment on Riggi’s case.
Explosion
Riggi killed her eight-year-old twins, Austin and Luke, and her five-year-old daughter, Cecelia, at their Edinburgh home on August 4 last year.
The siblings were found lying side by side in a bedroom after a gas explosion at the home.
Following the explosion, Riggi then plunged from a second-floor balcony in a suicide attempt.
After pleading guilty to three counts of culpable homicide on the grounds of diminished responsibility, Riggi was ordered to serve 16 years in jail at the High Court in Edinburgh.
A judge ruled that Riggi should be deported to the United States after serving her sentence.
Two weeks ago, on December 6, a female prisoner was charged over an alleged razor attack on Riggi which happened while she was in her cell on November 19.
The razor attack came days after a 22-year-old was charged with assaulting Riggi, after she was allegedly thrown down a flight of stairs.
Riggi was reportedly left with serious injuries after the fall.
Inmates at Cornton Vale revealed that Riggi spends much of the day hiding in her cell out of fear of being attacked by other inmates.
Riggi killed her children following a legal battle for custody with her estranged husband Pasquale Riggi.
