The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Grandmother attacked by Law killer McIntosh wants answers from minister.
‘There hasn’t been accountability’ claims victim after Law killer review released
A Dundee grandmother viciously attacked by Law killer Robbie McIntosh will demand “real answers” from the justice minister about what is being done to prevent her ordeal being repeated.
Linda McDonald will meet Humza Yousaf MSP at Holyrood today, three months after the release of a review into the case, which she believes failed to establish “accountability”.
Convicted murderer McIntosh battered Linda with a dumbbell at Templeton Woods while on home leave from prison in 2017.
He had previously been jailed for life with a minimum sentence of 15 years in 2002 for the brutal murder of dog walker Anne Nicoll on the Dundee Law.
In November a damning case review revealed that prison officials feared McIntosh was “playing the system” to be released but the final conclusion was that the attack on Linda could not have been predicted.
The report made a number of recommendations about risk assessments of prisoners.
Linda’s solicitor Aamer Anwar said: “Linda wants to see real change take place rather than these recommendations gathering dust.
“She wants to get real answers rather than redacted reports. She believes there hasn’t been accountability.
“It’s all very well having reviews and talking about sorrow for what happened but nobody has actually accepted responsibility and that’s a recipe for something like this to happen again.
“The hope is that Humza Yousaf will have some answers and if he doesn’t, that he would be able to get some answers.”
Linda suffered the random attack as she walked her dog, sustaining multiple skull fractures.
McIntosh only stopped when other dog walkers disturbed him while Linda pretended to be dead in order to protect herself.
McIntosh pled guilty to assault to severe injury, permanent disfigurement, permanent impairment, and danger to life and attempted murder, and was sentenced to an order of lifelong restriction, with a punishment part of five years.
Mr Anwar added: “It was only a matter of luck that Linda survived the attack.
“The physical injuries may not be visible anymore but she will carry the trauma all her life.
“The review said this attack could not have been predicted. Linda and those close to her can’t believe that.
“McIntosh was described in court as having ‘psychopathic traits’ yet prison bosses gave him a week’s home leave to help prepare him for release.
“Now the question mark still remains about how many of the recommendations have been carried out and how many have been translated right across Scotland.”