'Agony prolonged' for David Goodwillie victim over bid for criminal trial

The Scottish Government has been accused of “prolonging the agony” of the woman raped by footballer David Goodwillie after failing to reopen criminal proceedings against him.

Goodwillie, who was ruled to have raped Denise Clair in a civil court in 2017, had charges against him in a criminal proceeding dropped due to “insufficient evidence”.

Ms Clair’s legal team requested legal aid to fund a private criminal prosecution against the former Scotland and Dundee United striker.

But six months on, her advocate says there has been no response. Thomas Ross KC said the delay on a decision from the Scottish Government has been “agony”.

The Scottish Government said it was “working as quickly as possible”.

“She has been waiting already for 12, 13 years,” he told STV News.

“And the Scottish Government are prolonging the agony for her because a decision they could have made in half an hour has taken them six months and we still don’t have a decision.

“So, this is causing her additional anxiety, and if they are serious about putting victims at the centre of the justice system, they should be getting on with it.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We have received this application which is unique and complex and requires proper consideration.

“We are working as quickly as possible to make a decision.”