A Scottish rape survivor has slammed the country’s Parole Board for scheduling her attacker’s hearing for Valentine’s Day.
Brave Ellie Wilson was raped by her ex-boyfriend Daniel McFarlane while they were in a relationship. The now 27-year-old appealed for compassion from the board to change the hearing to a less significant day.
However, she claims their response was “cold” after describing the time of year as “triggering.” As well as the hearing being scheduled for Valentine’s Day, it is also around the time she was raped.
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Speaking to the Daily Record, the justice campaigner said the board showed no flexibility and the oral hearing will go ahead on February 14. This follows a hearing held in December to decide whether McFarlane should be released early.
Ellie, who has waived her right to anonymity, said: “Every time I think the justice system can’t get worse, but it does.
“I just couldn’t believe what I was seeing when I was informed. Not only will this hearing will take place on Valentine’s Day, but it is also around the time I was raped in February. It’s just laughable.
“I tried to explain this to the board, but their response was very cold and they said they were unable to reschedule.
“You would that what I said would hold some sort of weight but the board’s diary availability seems more important.
“It’s already a triggering time of year and now I have to spend it observing my rapist’s parole hearing. The trauma of the justice system just never ends.
“I’m truly sickened by this experience. There are no words. I don’t know what to do.
“The way victims are treated by this system is inhumane. Our needs are never considered, our hurt is unimportant.”
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Ellie has been backed by Scottish Labour MSP Monica Lennon, who believes the parole board must adapt a more “trauma-informed response”. She said: “I hear from survivors often that accessing justice can be just as traumatising as the assault itself.
“There is a long way to go to ensure the needs of survivors are considered. When people are looking at a date that could be triggering for a victim, there needs to be a compassionate and trauma-informed response.
“We know the courts and system are spinning plates and dealing with a huge backlog, but at the heart of this should be the needs of the survivor.
“It’s totally understandable that for Ellie this is a traumatic day for her, and the Board should take that into account.”
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Medical student McFarlane was convicted of raping Ellie twice between December 2017 and February 2018. He was jailed for five years in July 2022 after a trial at the High Court in Glasgow.
Two years into his sentence, Ellie was informed by the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) that McFarlane was being considered for parole.
Last month, Ellie launched a campaign calling for urgent reform to improve the rights of victims during their attackers’ parole process, alongside fellow survivor Hannah McLaughlan. She described the current system as deeply flawed and showing a “lack of care for victims.”
A spokesperson for the Parole Board for Scotland said: “The Parole Board for Scotland does not comment on individual cases. Legislation dictates that individuals must be considered around specific dates, and considerations are scheduled accordingly.”