Child abuse inquiry taking some evidence ‘as a matter of urgency’

By The Press Association11th February 2016News ScotlandChild Abuse, Inquiry, News Scotland, Sexual Abuse, Victim Support

An independent inquiry into the abuse of children in care is to take evidence from some seriously-ill and elderly victims “as a matter of urgency”, its chair has announced.

Susan O’Brien QC (pictured) said that while the inquiry is “not quite ready” to call for survivors and witnesses to come forward, it had decided to take evidence from a small number of people.

The inquiry, which could take up to four years, will cover allegations of abuse of children in formal institutional care including faith-based organisations, children’s homes and secure care as well as those in foster care, long-term hospital care and boarding schools.

It covers the period ”within living memory” up to December 17 2014 and will have the power to compel witnesses to attend and give evidence.

Ms O’Brien said it would be called the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry, adding that references to historical abuses “is misleading” and could deter survivors from coming forward.

She said: ” We are not quite ready to issue a call to all survivors and witnesses to come forward, as we are arranging to put support in place for people who will find giving evidence upsetting.

“Unfortunately, not everyone can wait even a few more weeks, so we have decided to take evidence from a small number of survivors as a matter of urgency.”

She said the inquiry had been asked to do this by the In Care Abuse Survivors Scotland group but added: “There may be other witnesses in the same position. If they make contact with us, we will try to take their evidence early.”

On the decision to change the name of the inquiry, Ms O’Brien stated: “I have taken a decision to accept evidence of abuse which happened up until December 17 2014.

“However you look at it, that is not a date far back in history and I have concluded that the reference to ‘historical’ child abuse is misleading.

“Anything which might prevent survivors of abuse from coming forward is not a good idea and we can change the name without expense or difficulty at this early stage.”

Those who wish to contact the inquiry can do so by emailing [email protected] or writing to Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry, PO Box 24085, Edinburgh EH7 9EA.

The In Care Abuse Survivors Scotland (INCAS) group is calling on the government to widen the remit of the inquiry to include institutions such as the Catholic Church.

It claims some organisations that have failed children are being “let off the hook”.

In response, Education Secretary Angela Constance, who announced the government’s intention to hold the inquiry in December 2014, said survivors had been engaged with extensively when deciding the remit.

She said the far-reaching scope included religious organisations and orders where they have looked after children in a residential capacity.

She told BBC Radio Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland programme: “Survivors were saying to me that they did not want to lose hope – they wanted an inquiry that was broad enough but was going to be able to report back within a meaningful time scale and make very clear and meaningful recommendations that would make sure that past injustices were addressed and, crucially, that the children of today would be protected.”

“As a government we are determined to make substantial progress and to support survivors with this public statutory inquiry, probably Scotland’s biggest ever inquiry.”