Survivors Threaten to Walk Away from Abuse Inquiry

By Chris Marshall
Scotsman
January 7, 2016

http://www.scotsman.com/news/survivors-threaten-to-walk-away-from-abuse-inquiry-1-3994859

The group In-Care Abuse Survivors (Incas) said it was being treated with contempt by Ms Constance. Picture: TSPL

SURVIVORS of historical child abuse are threatening to boycott a public inquiry into the issue amid criticism of the education secretary, Angela Constance.

The group In-Care Abuse Survivors (Incas) said it was being “treated with contempt” by Ms Constance.

The national inquiry began its work late last year under the leadership of Susan O’Brien, QC.

However, many abuse survivors feel its remit is too narrow because it only covers those abused in residential care. There are also concerns about compensation payments and access to legal aid.

In a statement, Incas said: “Survivors have made repeated requests for a face-to-face meeting. Ms Constance has, however, continued to refuse to engage with survivors.”

The group said a letter from the education secretary in which she said she was “unable to meet at this time” had been the “final straw”.

The group added: “We are moving away from a ‘survivor-centred’ inquiry to one where survivors are merely witnesses to be heard and then excused.”

Another group, White ­Flowers Alba, said the inquiry was “deeply flawed and unfit for purpose”.