Why on earth is this murderous monster eligible for parole after just 5 years?
Fury over secrecy surrounding notorious case
A CONVICTED murderer who attacked a grandmother while on home leave from prison is eligible for parole only five years after the savage assault.
Robbie McIntosh, 35, battered Linda McDonald with a dumb-bell only five days after being released.
The 57-year-old, who suffered multiple skull fractures and was lucky to survive the random attack as she walked her dog, even received a letter from the authorities asking her why he should not be released.
McIntosh had been jailed for life in 2002 for the knife murder of 34-year-old civil servant Anne Nicoll as she walked her dog on the Law hill, Dundee, the year before. The killer was 15 at the time.
Mrs McDonald, who is also angry that prison bosses have withheld a report on the incident, said: ‘I received a Parole Board letter asking me for a statement on why McIntosh should not receive a parole hearing now it’s nearing [the end of] his five-year punishment part [the period that must be served before parole can be considered].
‘Also, my statement will be shown to McIntosh – and I have no right to ask he doesn’t see it.
‘I am shocked at this. I had no idea that this was what lies ahead for the rest of my life.’
Mrs McDonald was headbutted, repeatedly stabbed and stamped on before being dragged into undergrowth. McIntosh was described in court as having ‘psychopathic traits’ yet prison bosses gave him a week’s home leave in 2017 to help prepare him for release.
While McIntosh was out, he launched a frenzied attack on Mrs McDonald in Dundee’s Templeton Woods – and only stopped when other dog-walkers disturbed him. McIntosh admitted assault to severe injury, permanent disfigurement, permanent impairment and danger to life and attempted murder over the attack.
In 2018, he was sentenced to an Order for Lifelong Restriction – a form of life sentence – with a punishment part of five years. The Mail later revealed an official report on McIntosh would remain secret to protect his right to privacy.
Prison chiefs cited ‘data protection’ during a Freedom of Information dispute with the Scottish Daily Mail to keep a report under wraps. It meant the public were not allowed to know who decided to let the psychopath out.
Mrs McDonald said prison chiefs promised her a full report but then failed to provide it.
She added: ‘This information is still being withheld even though it was a result of what happened to me. It’s shameful I have emails stating it was with lawyers for redaction but I have now been told I am not entitled due to GDPR [General Data Protection Regulation].’
Mrs McDonald has launched a website about her case – justice4linda.org – which has attracted interest and support from people around the world. The site recounts her ordeal and says: ‘On uncovering the grave errors which led to my attempted murder, I realise that we need more robust and consistent multi-agency protection with proportionate levels of public safeguards against highrisk offenders.
‘We need to address key failures in the current system and advocate for no release when the stakes are too high.
‘As I now live with the trauma of my attack, help me fight to protect the lives of innocent women, men, children and families.’
Scottish Tory justice spokesman Jamie Greene said: ‘Once again, the SNP Government are keeping victims in the dark whilst wrapping criminals in cotton wool. It is absolutely right that the McDonald family are told why this killer was allowed out on home leave. But the SNP’s secret Scotland means that they are not being told. Communication with victims and their families is simply not adequate, as this case proves.’
A spokesman for the Parole Board said: ‘The Board does not comment on individual cases.’
A Scottish Prison Service spokesman said: ‘We are acutely aware of the life-changing consequences for Mrs McDonald and her family as a result of this appalling act, and their desire for answers. We have been working with lawyers to identify issues around third parties in relation to the publication of this report and are seeking to resolve that safely.’
SOFT TOUCH JUSTICE