A Dundee woman who was nearly beaten to death by a convicted killer as she walked her dog has launched a campaign to help victims and change parole laws.
Linda McDonald was in Templeton Woods on the outskirts of the city in August 2017 when she was attacked by maniac Robbie McIntosh.
The murderer, 32, was out of jail on home leave when he launched the frenzied assault - striking her repeatedly with a dumbbell.
She was attacked almost 16 years after he murdered civil servant Anne Nicoll by stabbing her 29 times.
McIntosh was only 15 when he was jailed for life for Anne’s murder on the city’s Law Hill. Detectives who had been involved in the case feared he would strike again if he was ever released.
Linda was only saved by the intervention of two other dog walkers, who caused McIntosh to flee the scene.
Linda has now launched a campaign called Justice4Linda to try and change the parole system and help protect other victims.
Writing on the campaign website, she said: “As I now live with the trauma of my attack, help me fight to protect the lives of innocent women, men, children and families.
“Be part of a campaign that raises a voice for those who can never be heard.
“The justice I seek is to address the failure points which occurred in my case, so that others are protected from the harm and trauma that I now live with.”
After Linda’s attack, The Daily Record unearthed CCTV footage of McIntosh as he left home before the horrific attack, returning home afterwards and his subsequent arrest.
He is caught on film without a care in the world interacting with a neighbour’s dog and as officers arrive at his home later in the day he’s seen wearing different clothes to those he had on during the attack.
Linda now wants to see tighter measures imposed on high-risk offenders like McIntosh.
She added: “I now want to prevent others from the risk of similar scenarios and make sure that all members of the public can safely visit our streets, parks, pathways and woodlands in Scotland.
“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 high risk offenders.
“We need to address key failures in the current system and advocate for no release when the stakes are too high.”
And she added: "The main failures are linked to MAPPA and how it failed to fulfill its purpose.
"Before my incident I had never heard of MAPPA before. I now know that it has a vital role in protecting the public from high risk offenders released from prison.
"The Scottish Government states that the purpose of MAPPA is public protection and the reduction of serious harm.
"In Scotland the MAPPA brings together the Police, Scottish Prison Service (SPS), Health and the Local Authorities, in partnership as the Responsible Local Authorities, to assess and manage the risk posed for certain categories of offender."
McIntosh was being prepared for release on parole at the time of the attack on Linda.
The Record had revealed that locals in Bridgefoot, near Dundee, where McIntosh lived with his mother had warned the authorities about his behaviour in the weeks before the attack.
But the multi-agency review at the time said while there was nothing in McIntosh’s behaviour to suggest an attack was imminent, changes had to be made to the way social work, police and prison bosses communicate about violent offenders.
The independent review was carried out by MAPPA bosses – an agency including the police, local authorities, health board and the Scottish Prison Service.
Review chair Elaine Torrance wrote: “This incident was as a consequence of the perpetrator’s actions alone and could not have been predicted.”
However, she made recommendations including new risk management and release protocols by the SPS.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said today that they acknowledged Linda's bravery.
They added: "We want a system of release which has risk assessment and victim safety at its heart and we will continue to take the necessary steps to help deliver this. We remain clear prison is needed for those who pose a risk of serious harm.
"We acknowledge Mrs McDonald’s bravery in continuing to raise these issues, and that she wishes to ensure all parties learn from this case. We also send deepest sympathy to the family of the first victim for their loss.
"Scottish Government and the SPS accepted the recommendations for them in the Significant Case Review. We are committed to learning from its findings, and will build on the positive actions already taken.
"This includes a specific focus on improvements to the assessment and management of risk of prisoners as they progress through the prison estate.”
While a Scottish Prison Service spokesman said: "As we have previously made clear, we are profoundly sorry for what happened to Mrs McDonald.
"We are fully aware of the life-changing consequences, for her and her family, as a result of this dreadful act.
"We have engaged with Mrs McDonald and will continue to do so.”
Police Scotland have also been approached for comment.
- Visit the Justice4Linda website here.
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