TEARS AND APOLOGIES

Campaign founder Frank remembered

Barnardo’s and Aberlour Child Care Trust will also appear. The Scottish Government will give evidence on the nature, extent and development of the state’s areas of responsibility for children in residential and foster care in Scotland. The session in Edinburgh heard apologies from groups who said they “deplored that physical sexual abuses could occur”. They included Quarriers, Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul, Sisters of Nazareth, Good Shepherd Sisters, De La Salle Brothers and Christian Brothers. John Scott QC, the lawyer for Incas, said children had been “cruelly betrayed by those supposed to care for them”. He said survivors were often told three things by their abusers: “No one will listen, no one is interested and that they are of no value” – but he hoped the reaction to the inquiry “will prove these statements wrong”.

He said all abuse victims should be “seen as the children they once were” and that they have to be listened to.

Referring to the institutions involved, Scott said “an unforced apology is much more powerful than an enforced and grudging acceptance”.

Canon Boyle, representing the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, told the hearing that Archbishop Philip Tartaglia had offered a “profound” apology in 2015 to those harmed as a result of the actions of anyone within the Catholic Church. He added that there was “an overwhelming sense of shame that these abhorrent crimes have occurred in the context of the church”.

Kate Dowdalls QC, representing the Quarriers homes, offered an “unreserved apology”.

And Gregor Rolfe, representing the Daughters of Charity, said the organisation were “horrified by the allegations of abuse”.

A group of survivors and campaigners staged a vigil outside the building.

They also held a minute’s silence “to remember those children whose lives have been taken by abusers, those who have lost their lives from the affects of abuse and those who have died without gaining justice for the crimes committed against them”.

Kate Walmsley, who travelled from Belfast to support the vigil, was in tears as the music played.

She said: “All survivors want is justice and to be sure that these crimes can never happen again and our children are protected.”

Sandra Toyer, from Wellbeing Scotland, added: “I hope it will give us the answers we’re looking for. I don’t want to be sceptical and want to give it a chance.

“There are some very worried institutions in there and it is those people who must answer to these crimes against children.”

The inquiry is funded by the Scottish Government.

Lady Smith is chairing on her own after three senior panel members resigned.

The original chairwoman, Susan O’Brien QC, stood down last year, accusing the Scottish Government of interference which had “undermined” her.

The Scottish Government denied the claims.