Kirk ‘sorry’ for shipping children off to Australia to be abused

THE Church of Scotland yesterday apologised for forcing young children to migrate from Scotland to Australia.

The Rev Thom Riddell, convener of the Kirk’s Social Care Council, said the migration programme failed many youngsters and their families.

In a statement, Mr Riddell said: ‘The Church of Scotland took part in the Child Migrant programme between the years of 1950-1963.

‘We recognise the hurt caused and are deeply and profoundly sorry for the actions which were taken and for the impact that those actions had on the lives of those affected.

‘We fully accept that the programme which we embarked on was ill- conceived and understand that children and their families experienced trauma and suffering as a result. We believe it is right and proper that we are held to account for this at the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry.’

The s t a t e ment c o nt i nued: ‘Although those involved at the time set out to give children a better opportunity for the future than it was thought they would have in Scotland, we acknowledge that this was not what happened, and that in reality children were sent into an unfamiliar and often harsh and abusive environment.

‘We unreservedly apologise to every migrated child who suffered as a result of our actions.’

The inquiry heard yesterday that the church was pressured to get more child migrants sent to Australia to ‘ keep up with’ Roman Catholics and other faiths.

Vivienne Dickson, chief executive of the Kirk’s CrossReach social care organisation, was giving evidence about youngsters moved between 1950 and 1963. The inquiry was told a letter in 1953 from the Rev John Chalinor, convener of the immigration committee of the Presbyterian Church of Australia, said ‘ RCs [Roman Catholics] and Fairbridge’, a multi-faith school, were having more success.

Judge Lady Smith, who is chairing the inquiry, said: ‘The message is to the committee they need to try harder because other people are managing to do it.

‘One is obviously not a Protestant organisation and Fairbridge was open to all faiths – “don’t you want to keep your end up?’’.’

Miss Dickson agreed with Lady Smith’s summation. ‘Yes, it was quite a pressured letter,’ she said.

She added that the church wanted to apologise to those children who were migrated.

The inquiry also heard that the ‘starting point’ was to gain consent from each boy, although the known age range of the children involved starts at seven. Miss Dickson said: ‘I would not believe a child of seven could give that informed consent.’

It was heard the first migration ship linked to the church left in December 1950, with 22 boys aged under 14 on board.

The inquiry, in Edinburgh, continues on Tuesday.