WE STAND WITH THE SURVIVORS

Counter-protest confronts Justice for Innocent Men Scotland demo at Holyrood | Campaigner says group fighting 'unfair trials' contains rapists and domestic abusers

- BY SALLY HIND

SEX attack survivors hit out after they clashed with a "rapists' rights" group at the Scottish Parliament yesterday.

Members of Justice for Innocent Men Scotland (JIMS), who have been blasted for targeting women speaking out on abuse, planned a "silent protest" at Holyrood campaigning against "unfair trials" in Scotland.

The 100-strong group turned out with a piper and megaphone to be met with chants of "shame on you" from a group representing victims of abuse, led by rape survivor Ellie Wilson.

Wilson, 27, was jeered by JIMS supporters waving placards as she shouted: "In this group you have men who have been convicted of rape, sexual offences against children, domestic abusers. And they support these beasts. It's despicable." One of JIMS' arguments is that crucial evidence is being ignored by parts of the Criminal Procedure Act, which was designed to protect victims from intrusive questioning.

Spokeswoman Kirsty McDermott, 37, of Motherwell, said it wanted to send a message that a fair trial is a "fundamental human right".

She said: "Crucial evidence is being hidden from juries, lives are ruined, families are broken and innocent men are becoming the victims of a system that should protect justice above all else.

"Our fight is not with victims, our fight is with the Scottish judiciary and even though that may upset some genuine victims, I can only apologise for that. But it's certainly not going to derail us from fighting for fairness in our courts." Wilson's ex-partner Daniel McFarlane was caged for five years in 2022 for raping her twice while they were both students at Glasgow University.