Glasgow rape survivor criticises parole board over Valentine’s Day hearing

A former University of Glasgow student and rape survivor has criticised the Parole Board for Scotland after her attacker’s parole hearing was scheduled for Valentine’s Day.

Ellie Wilson, a 27-year-old justice campaigner, was raped twice by her ex boyfriend Daniel McFarland between December 2017 and February 2018 while they were in a relationship. She has described the decision to set the hearing on 14th February as “highly distressing” and appealed to the board for a change of date. Citing the emotional significance of both Valentine’s Day and the time of year when the attacked occurred.

Ellie, who has waived her right to anonymity, criticised the board’s lack of compassion after they declined her request.

“I just couldn’t believe what I was seeing when I was informed. Not only will this hearing take place on Valentine’s Day, but it is also around the time I was raped in February. It’s just laughable,” she told the Daily Record.

She continued: “The trauma of the justice system just never ends. It’s already a triggering time of year, and now I have to spend it observing my rapist’s parole hearing.

“The way victims are treated by this system is inhumane. Our needs are never considered.”

The hearing was rescheduled after an initial session on 18th December failed to reach a decision regarding McFarlane’s potential early release. McFarlane, a former medical student, was sentenced to five years in prison in July 2022 following his conviction at the High Court in Glasgow.

Scottish Labour MSP Monica Lennon has backed Wilson, calling for a “trauma-informed response” to such cases: “It’s totally understandable that for Ellie, this is a traumatic time of year, and the Board should take that into account. Survivors’ needs must be at the heart of the justice process.”

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Ellie has also launched a campaign, alongside fellow survivor Hannah McLaughlan, calling for urgent reforms to improve victims’ rights during parole proceedings. She described the current system as deeply flawed and failing to prioritise victim care.

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.”

Ellie’s experience highlights ongoing challenges faced by survivors within Scotland’s justice system, as calls for reforms to better protect and support victims grow louder.

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