Ministers decided AGAINST holding inquiry into historical child abuse

SCOTS ministers discussed holding a public inquiry into institutional child abuse but decided it was ‘not the best way to proceed,’ newly released documents show.

Minutes from Cabinet meetings at Bute House show the then Scottish Executive also sought to allay concerns with the Catholic Church that it was attempting to apply pressure over historical abuse.

The documents show that in December 2004, the Cabinet discussed a petition calling for a full public inquiry into institutional abuse. But the minutes record that ministers decided against an inquiry.

The same month, First Minister Jack McConnell made a ‘sincere and full apology’ at Holyrood for abuse which had occurred in children’s homes.

The minutes stated: ‘It was noted that while the First Minister’s statement would address the desire for a public apology, the Executive could expect to be pressed further to agree to a public inquiry.

‘It would be important to set out very clearly why it was felt that a public inquiry was not the best way to proceed. The Executive had also to avoid any action that might prejudice cases currently being pursued through the courts.’

The discussion followed the submission of a parliamentary petition by Chris Daly, a former resident of Nazareth House children’s home in Aberdeen.

The minutes show Education Minister Peter Peacock had committed to establishing a ‘short-life’ working group to look at abuse and would fund improved counselling services for survivors.

Minutes of the Cabinet meeting from

December 8 stated: ‘Mr Peacock said that following the debate on institutional child abuse the previous week, there had been media speculation that the Executive’s strategy had been intended to put pressure on the Catholic Church.’

Despite initial reluctance, a national child abuse inquiry was later set up by the Scottish Government.

The Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry, led by Lady Smith, began its work in 2015 and has cost £27million to date.

The documents also reveal Scottish ministers discussed disgraced Cardinal Keith O’Brien’s opposition to a new national sexual health policy.

Minutes from a 2004 Cabinet meeting show ministers had been made aware of a newspaper article in which Cardinal O’Brien criticised plans for more sex education in schools, warning against ‘statesponsored sexual abuse of children’.