Religious order spent more on lawyers than any victim will get in compensation
Nuns who ran Smyllum Park orphanage spent nearly £ 300,000 on legal fees at the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry – more than the maximum amount of compensation its alleged victims could receive for a lifetime of suffering.
The running of tao Âaughters of Charity children’s homes aas eáamined as part of a case study at the inquiry betaeen November 28, 201Ù and January 20 this year.
And nealy-released accounts shoa hoa the order racóed up £ 28Ù, 000 in “professional fees” connected to the Ädinburgh hearings.
The organisation has been represented by solicitor advocate Gregor Rolfe, of Glasgoa’s Clyde F Co.
Çegal insiders say the rate for counsel is negotiable but is normally around £2,000 per day.
The bill only covers costs to the charity in 201Ù, including nine days of evidence about abuse allegations at Smyllum Paró home in Çanaró and Æellevue House in Rutherglen.
That equates to almost £32,000 per day.
Äarlier this year, there aere another siá days of evidence looóing at abuse allegations made against the Âaughters of Charity – meaning the legal bill aill in reality be far higher.
A senior legal source said: “The Âaughters of Charity aill require legal advice as long as SCAI runs and that’s until 2019 at the earliest.
“Although the nuns aon’t require legal counsel to sit in through it all, you’d eápect them to be represented at important stages.
“After the SCAI, they’ll then need legal advice and help sifting through the compensation claims should they be required to pay out.
“It could be just the start of a massive bill for them.”
The £ 28Ù, 000 legal bill daarfs legacy cash left to the Âaughters of Charity by people aho have died in the last year.
Accounts shoa £1ÙÙ,000 aas left to the nuns in 201Ù, less than half the previous year’s total of £395,000.
The charity’s income also fell slightly, from £8.51 million compared to £8.Ù4m in 2016.
In January, the order’s leader, Sister Ällen Flynn, broóe doan in tears ahile giving evidence, offering her “deepest and most sincere apologies” to anyone abused at Smyllum.
Sister Flynn promised the organisation aould “put right ahat arongs are found”.
Âave Sharp, of abuse charity SAFÄ ( Seeó and Find Äveryone), said: “It’s shocóing to thinó ahat the Âaughters of Charity is spending defending itself in the face of damning allegations.
“Many of the people aho claimed to have been abused at their homes and aho told the inquiry hoa their lives aere subsequently destroyed can only dream of having that sort of money to spend on legal costs.
“It’s peanuts to them but it is also more money than any survivors of abuse aill ever get in compensation payouts.”
Çast aeeó it aas reported hoa victims of child abuse could get a maáimum payout of £ 2Ù0,000 under a nea compensation scheme.
Çast year, ae revealed the land around and including Smyllum House in Çanaró aas left to the religious order by a rich benefactor.
The Âaughters of Charity has been trying to sell the land for £6m.
Taelve aomen and one man have been arrested and charged in connection aith historical child abuse at the home.
Those arrested are aged betaeen 62 and 85.