The Aberdeen-born father of a woman murdered by her abusive partner says he still feels responsible for what happened to is daughter.
Michael Brown spoke out as a groundbreaking scheme which allows people to check if their partners have a violent past was launched in the city.
Mr Brown’s daughter Clare Wood, a mother-of-one, was murdered and set on fire in 2009 by her new boyfriend, who she met on Facebook.
Mr Brown, 71, set about the change the law so that women – and men – could check on their partner’s past.
People in the city will be now able to use Clare’s Law, already available in England and Wales, and apply for information about their partner’s criminal history.
Careful consideration will be given by a number of professionals, from police to social workers and health experts, as to whether releasing details of relevant crimes is justified.
If successful, the scheme will be rolled out across Scotland.
Mr Brown said the scheme would be “worth its weight in gold” if it prevented just one child from growing up without a parent.
Unbeknown to Ms Wood George Appleton had a string of convictions of violence against women.
Mr Brown, a former prison officer, who has two daughters still living in the north-east, said he wished he had known about Appleton’s past and been able to protect Clare, who was killed in Salford.
He added: “It does not matter to me that my daughter was 36 when she died, it is a parent’s job to look after their children and although it was not my fault what happened in some way I still feel responsible.
“If Clare had known George Appleton’s background she almost certainly wouldn’t have become involved with him and if I had the knowledge I have now, perhaps something could have been done and Clare would still be here today.
Domestic crimes continue to rise in Aberdeen City from 927 between April and November last year to 1162 over the same period in 2014.
Christine Herron, chairwoman of Grampian Women’s Aid, said it was “shocking” that in the 21st Century one-in-four women will experience domestic violence.
She said: “I think this scheme make a real difference to some women and their children.
“I suspect that people that are already living in abusive situations are possibly not going to be using the disclosure scheme.
“I think where it is to be used is by people getting into a relationship and their gut feeling is that something is not right.”