GP Arrested Over Abusive Tweets About Son’s Rape Victim
Dr. Andrew McFarlane, a general practitioner in the Scottish Highlands, has been arrested and charged with communications offences following allegations that he posted abusive comments on social media about Ellie Wilson — the woman his son was convicted of raping.
The 61-year-old was taken into custody on Wednesday. His arrest follows earlier complaints to the General Medical Council (GMC) regarding his tweets, where he publicly claimed his son Daniel McFarlane was wrongly convicted and referred to Wilson as a “manipulative liar.”
Daniel McFarlane was found guilty in 2022 of raping Ellie Wilson while he was a medical student at the University of Glasgow. The attacks occurred between December 2017 and February 2018. He was sentenced to five years in prison.
Wilson, now a campaigner for survivors of male sexual violence, later released a covert audio recording of McFarlane acknowledging the assaults. In the recording, he said, “We have already established that I have [raped you]… I will tell them the truth one day, but not today.”
Dr. McFarlane has since been placed under restrictions by the GMC after an interim orders tribunal, although he remains permitted to practice. He must now report any changes to his employment status directly to the GMC.
Police Scotland confirmed the man had been released pending a court appearance. The GMC has paused any internal disciplinary procedures due to the ongoing criminal investigation.
Wilson said the online abuse made her feel retraumatized, stating: “It felt like I was right back there trapped in that abusive relationship.”
The investigation continues.
