Scottish Government Faces Criticism Over Delayed Justice for Rape Victim Denise Clair
First Minister John Swinney expresses dissatisfaction with the prolonged decision-making on funding a private prosecution against David Goodwillie and David Robertson.
- Denise Clair, a rape victim who won a civil case in 2017 against David Goodwillie and David Robertson, still awaits government support to fund a rare private criminal prosecution.
- First Minister John Swinney apologized for the delay, acknowledging the government's slow response to Clair's request for financial assistance.
- Solicitor General Ruth Charteris met with Clair to explain why her case was not prosecuted, citing limitations on Crown Office actions but highlighting the impact of Clair's story on broader reviews of sexual offense prosecutions.
- The case was raised in Holyrood by Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay, who criticized the justice system's handling of Clair's case and other victims' experiences, including the murder of Claire Inglis.
- Concerns were also raised about broader justice policies, including a new bill reducing the required sentence served for short-term offenders, which critics argue reflects a lenient approach to justice.
Evening Standard 
The Independent 