The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Law Killer guilty of second brutal attack
COURT: Inquiry launched into how vicious murderer was freed to strike again
Prison bosses are to review how convicted murderer Robbie McIntosh was allowed back on to the streets to try to kill again.
The 31-year-old pled guilty to the attempted murder of Dundee dog walker Linda McDonald in Templeton Woods in August when he appeared at the High Court in Edinburgh yesterday.
Mrs McDonald was left with life-changing injuries after being battered with a dumbbell in the horrific attack.
McIntosh had been jailed in 2002 for the brutal murder of civil servant Anne Nicoll, 34, on Dundee Law in 2001.
Mrs McDonald’s husband Matthew said: “I can’t believe the Scottish Prison Service deemed that this sick individual, who attempted to murder my wife, was allowed to be in the public domain.
“To ensure no other family has to endure what we are experiencing the Scottish Prison Service and the Parole Board should... examine their release criteria and assessment systems.”
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “SPS have confirmed that a critical incident review will be carried out following the conclusion of the trial to ensure that any lessons are learned.”
McIntosh had been permitted to spend one week a month at his social worker mother’s home as he prepared for his release from Castle Huntly open prison.
Former Tayside police detective Heather Sharpe, who worked on the original murder case, said: “He is a very dangerous person – cold and calculating. I hope that this time his family recognise what he is like.”
“He was examined by psychiatrists and there was no evidence of a mental disorder
Law Killer Robbie McIntosh tried to kill a Dundee grandmother as she walked her dog, just five days after he was released from prison for his earlier crime.
McIntosh, who received a life sentence in 2002 for the murder of Anne Nicoll – committed when he was just 15 – is likely to spend the rest of his life in jail after admitting battering Linda McDonald with a dumbbell in Templeton Woods in August.
Mrs McDonald fended off “expressionless” McIntosh, who attacked her from behind and struck her over the head repeatedly.
Despite being responsible for one of the most violent unprovoked murders the city has seen, McIntosh had been allowed out once a month from Castle Huntly open prison to his mother’s house in Bridgefoot, to ready him for a parole hearing.
The period of freedom in which he attacked Mrs McDonald coincided with the anniversary of Ms Nicoll’s murder.
After he pled guilty, Edinburgh High Court was told Mrs McDonald was walking her dog through Templeton Woods, when she noticed McIntosh coming towards her “at pace”, carrying a rucksack.
She gave him a half-smile to acknowledge him as he passed but his footsteps suddenly halted, before she heard him running back towards her.
McIntosh raised the dumbbell, taken from his mother’s house, above his head and brought the weighted end down on her head, stunning his victim.
As she tried to fight off her attacker, Mrs McDonald screamed for help and received multiple fractures to her skull and cuts on her head, as well as a broken thumb. She remained conscious throughout the ordeal.
The court was told her desperate plea for help was heard by dog walkers Peter and Charles Connor, who ran to her aid.
Mr Connor described McIntosh as having a “vacant expression” as he loomed over Mrs McDonald, before he got up and ran away. An ambulance and police arrived four minutes after they called 999.
Throughout her treatment, Mrs McDonald asked for her husband, as she wanted to see him “before she died”.
The court was told doctors at Ninewells were able to save Mrs McDonald’s thumb and identified a number of skull fractures, which did not require surgery.
Since the attack, Mrs McDonald has struggled to sleep, is suffering anxiety and is scared to go out in public, all of which is affecting her everyday life.
She has been unable to return to work and she worries about the affect her ordeal has had on her family.
Mrs McDonald later recognised McIntosh through a VIPER police identification procedure.
Advocate depute Iain McSporran QC read the narratives of the August 7 attack and — due to the “similarities” of the cases — also what happened on the day McIntosh murdered Anne Nicoll in August 2001.
Mr McSporran said: “At the time of the offence McIntosh was on home leave and was being considered for parole.
“He was granted leave to his mother’s house for one week every four weeks.
“He was examined and there were no concerns about his mental state. It was anticipated he would be released on parole on August 9.
“He was examined by psychiatrists and there was no evidence of a mental disorder.”
McIntosh, of Rowanplace, Bridgefoot, pleaded guilty to attempting to murder Linda McDonald on August 7 at Templeton Woods.
Lord Arthurton deferred sentence until November 29 at Glasgow High Court.
He told McIntosh as he was led back to prison: “This is one of the worst cases of violence I have ever had to deal with.”
Solicitor advocate Chris Fyffe, representing McIntosh, said the 32-yearold was “contrite” and “remorseful” for his actions.