Domestic Violence Victim Misinformed: Prison Announces Early Release of Ex 18 Months Ahead!

At 76, William McDonald subjected his wife to brutal assaults, including throwing her into the sea, biting her nose, and hitting her head with a bucket.

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Prison officials have issued an apology after erroneously informing a victim of domestic abuse that her former spouse was set to be prematurely released after completing just a fraction of his sentence.

William McDonald, who is 76 years old and resides in Ardersier, Inverness-shire, was sentenced in June to a mere two years in prison for his long history of abusing Eve Graham. His violent acts over the years included pushing his wife into the sea from a pier, biting her on the nose, and striking her head with a bucket in multiple distressing incidents.

Eve, aged 68, was shocked to receive a phone call on Thursday notifying her of McDonald’s release from HMP Edinburgh in just 24 hours, only six months into his sentence. However, the following day, she received another call backtracking the previous notification. The Scottish Prison Service later admitted to the erroneous communication and recognized the unintended distress it caused the victim.

Eve expressed her turmoil, stating, “I endured 24 hours of agony for nothing. The initial call left me in utter disbelief; I was angry and distressed. I couldn’t sleep at all that night. They were unable to explain why, citing various reasons.”

“It was utterly shocking to learn about his supposed release just a day prior. All I could think about was the strain of the court case, only for him to potentially walk free in six months,” she continued.

“When I received a repentant call 24 hours later retracting his release, I was astounded. They were extremely apologetic. It makes me wonder how many other offenders, who are clearly not ready for release, are being let out early?” Eve added.

McDonald was convicted at the High Court in Edinburgh for his almost half-century-long abuse. The presiding judge noted his “disturbing tendency for violence and cruelty.” Eve first reported McDonald in 1979 after an incident where he dragged her by her hair in their East Kilbride home, but she claimed he was merely given a “talking to.”

In subsequent years, McDonald’s abuse continued, including an incident in 1981 where he threw Eve and caused her to hit her head on a chair, and another in 1987 when he pushed her off a pier in Nairn. “I didn’t tell the police then. I felt like nobody could help me. Every time nothing happened, he felt more empowered,” Eve previously stated.

The musician faced more charges of abuse between August 2019 and August 2022. In one attack, he covered her head with a towel and bit her nose. In 2022, he knelt on Eve’s arm, causing severe bruising, and shoved her against walls. Following her GP’s advice, she contacted the police.

In 2023, Eve lodged a formal complaint regarding the police investigation into her cases. Police Scotland confirmed that complaints concerning its handling of the case were not upheld and emphasized its commitment to addressing domestic abuse. Typically, Scottish prisoners are required to serve at least half of their sentence before being considered for release.

Individuals convicted of domestic abuse are not eligible for the emergency early release scheme, which is intended to alleviate prison overcrowding. However, some inmates may be released early under a home detention curfew, also known as “electronic tagging,” which involves strict monitoring and managed reintegration for up to six months.

Eve understands that McDonald will now remain incarcerated until at least June but mentioned that she has not been provided with further details. “I’m not informed about anything – I’m just the victim. I’m just relieved that I don’t have to live in fear for at least another six months,” she remarked.

Eve had notified her MSP, Emma Roddick of the SNP, about the proposed release. MSP Roddick stated, “I’m deeply concerned anytime someone fears for their safety, particularly when it involves a perpetrator’s release from prison.”

“I hope that this is always accompanied by proper support and safety measures to reduce risk and provide reassurance to the victim, and that all communications are accurate and supportive. I do not yet know what went wrong in this case, but I will continue to support Eve and others in similar situations,” she added.

The Victim Notification Scheme mandates that the SPS inform victims of any changes to the release date. The SPS stated, “We recognize that the decision change in this case has caused unintended distress, and we apologize for this and any resulting discomfort.”