Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Gran forgives attacker but says ‘systems’ fail to keep public safe
A DUNDEE gran who was battered with a dumbbell by a murderer who was out on home leave has said she doesn’t feel angry towards her attacker.
Linda McDonald, speaking ahead of the five-year anniversary of the attack tomorrow, said she forgives Robbie McIntosh for assaulting her as she walked her dog in Dundee’s Templeton Woods.
With McIntosh having been previously jailed for life for the murder of another female dog walker in Dundee, she is campaigning for change in the justice system.
A Justice for Linda website has been set up, which will have a petition aiming to “prevent the release of high-risk offenders without the full protection we need for our communities”.
Ms McDonald also wants the chance to tell her story to MSPs at the Scottish Parliament.
She spoke out ahead of the five-year anniversary of the attack tomorrow – about the same time as McIntosh is reportedly due to be considered for parole at a hearing.
An order for lifelong restriction was imposed on him when he was sentenced for the attempted murder of Ms McDonald – meaning he will be monitored for the rest of his life.
He was also ordered to serve five years behind bars before he can be considered for release, which will only happen once the parole board determines he is no longer a risk to the public.
McIntosh attacked Ms McDonald after being given a week of home leave from Castle Huntly prison, where he had been serving a life sentence for the murder of Anne Nicoll in August 2001.
Ms McDonald told BBC Scotland: “As I turned around he was running right towards me, I never had the chance to do anything but put my hand up as I saw him come down on me with a big nickel-plated dumbbell.
“I knew as soon as he hit me that it was serious, because the smell of the blood was like pennies in the warm, and I was stunned.”
She added: “I forgive him, I don’t even feel angry with him. I know some of my family and friends feel different.
“I feel angry at the systems that failed to keep the public safe.”
She says her “main focus” is a meeting with MSPs at Holyrood, adding: “I want a cross-party parliamentary meeting.”
She urged politicians: “If you really want Scotland safe and you want your policies and systems to work, listen to the people who have survived when they don’t work.”