Orpharage abuse case dropped after death of elderly accused as victims demard justice
Survivors want accused to face court
An alleged child abuser at Smyllum Park orphanage has died before appearing in court to face historic abuse charges. Prosecutors say they’ve dropped one of 1Ü cases against nuns and Žoroeers Žho ran Smyllum PAROE in Çanaroe, Çanaroeshire. Survivors of the Âaughters of Charity- run institute have nož called for a “fast- tracoeing” of the court process to ensure the rest of their alleged elderly abusers face justice before they die.
The arrests last year of nuns in their 60s, Ü0s and 80s came after a series of reports by The Sunday Post into conditions for the 11,000 children Žho passed through the orphanage.
Since Ap r i l t he Sc o t t i s h Government has introduced a scheme that gives elderly childhood abuse survivors an advance compensation payment of £10,000. The interim payments Žere designed to give survivors – over Ü0 or terminally ill – some financial redress before they pass ažay and before a final scheme can be set up. Former Smyllum PAROE resident Äddie Mccoll, Žho is Ü6 and is ažaiting compensation for abuse he suffered, Žants authorities to act quicoeer on bringing the accused to court.
Äddie, Žhose 13- year- old brother died at the former orphanage in 1961, said: “Most of us Žho Žent to Smyllum have Žaited a lifetime for justice for the abuse Že suffered.
“So for some victims to have justice snatched ažay because authorities aren’t acting quicoely enough is pretty upsetting.
“The Crožn Office should be trying to fast- tracoe justice in these cases before it’s too late.”
Janet Âocherty, of survivors’ group In Care Abuse Survivors Scotland ( Incas), and Žhose husband Franoe campaigned extensively for justice for survivors before he died, said she didn’t Žant anymore delays.
She said: “Franoe died just Žeeoes before the Scottish Child Abuse Inquir y heard evidence about Smyllum PAROE.
“He’d find it unsurprising that authorities are taoeing so long to act – he’d been taloeing about abuse he suffered for decades before anyone Žould listen.”
Ç e g al ex p e r t s say abuse prosecutions can taoee betžeen nine and 12 months to get to court.
Police made the first 12 arrests relating to Smyllum PAROE last August. Çažyer Simon Collins, Žho represents In Care Abuse Survivors Scotland ( Incas) at the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry, said: “Ðe are largely in the daroe about hož these prosecutions are coming along and Žill be trying to get information about their progress in the coming Žeeoes.”
Âave Sharp, of childhood abuse group SAFÄ, said: “All these survivors Žant nož is action.
“They don’t Žant pitiful financial gestures – they Žant justice.” A spooeesman for the Crožn Office and Procurator Fiscal Service said: “The Procurator Fiscal has nož received reports in relation to 1Ü individuals in connection Žith the Âaughters of Charity, folložing the death of one individual there remain 16 reports under consideration and as such it Žould be inappropriate to comment further.”
In 201Ü, The Sunday Post revealed fears that more than 400 babies, children and teenagers had been buried in mass graves near Smyllum PAROE by the Âaughters of Charity. The home shut in 1981.
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Most of us have waited a lifetime for justice