Paedophile ring victim faces more threats as car attacked

Published on Monday 8 December 2008 08:41

A BMW car belonging to the victim of Edinburgh's worst paedophile ring has been vandalised with the word "grass".

Dana Fowley said she was shocked to discover thousands of pounds' worth of damage to the vehicle which was vandalised as it sat outside her home in the west of Edinburgh.

The attack was the latest in a series of threats against the 26-year-old, who was raped and abused along with her sister over a period of 12 years by family members and their friends.

Her home was also attacked by a gang of men wielding swords and hammers in December last year in an incident which was caught on CCTV cameras installed to protect her safety.

She bought the 33,000 BMW X5 with some of the proceeds of a book deal she signed to tell her story. In July, publication of the book was blocked by the procurator fiscal until forthcoming trials are completed.

The attack happened during broad daylight on Monday.

Ms Fowley said: "I was obviously upset when I saw what they had done."

The vandals scratched "grass" into the side of the vehicle and scratched the other side door. Although the car is insured, Ms Fowley faces paying a 500 excess while repairs are expected to take until Christmas Eve to complete.

Ms Fowley and her partner, Paul Kernachan, 41, said they had called in police.

Ms Fowley fought a life-threatening battle in August when a stomach ulcer burst and doctors had to repeatedly restart her heart. Eight pints of blood transfusions were needed to save her.

She said: "I'm feeling much better now although I was very sick at the time."

Former ice cream man Billy King, who died in 1995, married Ms Fowley's mother, Caroline Dunsmore, and was considered to be the main figure behind the paedophile ring.

Ms Fowley suffered at the hands of her mother and others who abused her and her sister.

Dunsmore is serving 12 years for her role, while Morris Petch, 50, received a life sentence and John O'Flaherty, also 50, was handed a 13-year term after their trial last year.