Survivors claim abuse inquiry remit is too narrow
VICTIMS fear Deputy First Minister John Swinney will ignore their pleas to extend the remit of a troubled inquiry into historic child abuse.
The senior politician told three survivors groups at a series of meetings there were arguments against extending the reach of the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry being headed by judge Lady Smith, after Susan Boyd, QC, quit earlier this year.
These included expense, the length of time the inquiry might take, and the fact that little new will be learned from increasing the ground the probe will cover.
However, many victims feel there is a fundamental unfairness about the inquiry’s remit, which will cover abuses suffered by children who were in state care, but not, for instance, those abused in religious settings in the community.
Alan Draper, spokesman for In Care Abuse Survivors (Incas) said: “We feel the current remit excludes large numbers of survivors who were abused and we put forward a powerful argument about extending it.
“But I am not hopeful, because Mr Swinney seemed preoccupied by the fact he might be criticised, or it might take another year.
“It is not about what will be learned or how long it takes. This has consequences for each and every victim. If he doesn’t extend the remit, it will be not just disappointing but devastating for most survivors.”
Mr Draper said victims of abuse were also waiting to see if legislative plans will include changes to the law to remove a statutory time limitation which prevents many of them from seeking legal redress.
Andi Lavery, of the group White Flowers Alba, which represents many victims of abuse within the Catholic Church, added: “The question is, will he do anything to address our concerns? I feel like we are banging our heads against a brick wall.”
Mr Swinney said the meetings with survivors and their representatives had been constructive.