Child abuse survivors welcome time-bar lift
CHILD abuse survivors have welcomed a new bill which will see the three-year time limit for seeking justice against their abusers lifted.
Holyrood politicians passed the Limitation (Childhood Abuse) (Scotland) Bill, meaning anyone who suffered abuse on or after September 26, 1964 will be able to seek compensation and take legal action.
Survivors groups, law firms and politicians have welcomed the move, though others have raised concerns about some of the comments made during yesterday’s debate.
They have also expressed disappointment about older survivors abused before 1964 who will not be able to seek justice.
Minister for Community Safety & Legal Affairs, Annabelle Ewing said: “Survivors have been let down repeatedly: they were severely and fundamentally let down by their abuser and by the adults who were meant to protect them at the time.
“While raising a civil action may not be the right way forward for everyone, this bill widens the options available to survivors seeking redress.”
Janine Rennie, chief executive of Wellbeing Scotland, said the bill would give survivors the chance to take forward civil cases, and added: “I’m really delighted as survivors have waited far too long for justice.
“We are still disappointed at the pre-1964 class who are not going to achieve that so we’re hoping there will be a redress scheme for those people. I know there has been discussion about how this is going to be funded and I’m concerned at that.
“The important thing is that survivors achieve justice.
“Some of them have not been able to work and have an education like everybody else.
“It’s a moral disgrace and to even discuss it in monetary terms is quite distasteful.”
Lindsay Bruce from Thompsons solicitors, which is representing a large number of survivors, said: “This is a very big day for the survivors. Now begins the process of fighting for justice for individual survivors through the court process.
“We’re now calling on every organisation facing claims to deal with them fairly, quickly and with compassion.
“We hope that will be the case but if it is not, we won’t hesitate to use the power of this new law to make sure that survivors who have been ignored for so long get the justice they deserve.”