Second Survivors" Group Threatens to Snub Abuse Inquiry

By Janice Burns
The National
January 8, 2016

http://www.thenational.scot/news/second-survivors-group-threatens-to-snub-abuse-inquiry.12075

A SECOND group of people who suffered abuse as children have threatened to boycott the public inquiry into historical allegations in Scotland.

White Flowers Alba (WFA) has already indicated it will take no part in the process and now members of the In Care Survivors’ group (INCAS) have said the Scottish Government was treating them with contempt and could be set to follow suit.

Ministers have insisted the public inquiry, chaired by Susan O’Brien QC, is the widest Scotland has ever seen, and it will investigate abuse in residential settings such as boarding and secure schools as well as among foster families.

These include allegations of abuse at the former Fort Augustus Abbey School and its junior school in East Lothian.

However, survivors have said it fails to address many other cases, including where priests abused children in parishes, and in youth organisations.

Now survivors from the INCAS group are threatening to pull out of the inquiry until Education Secretary Angela Constance is “prepared to sit down” with them.

INCAS members said they had made repeated demands to discuss the issue with Constance but she had refused to meet them. Alan Draper, parliamentary liaison officer of INCAS, said that while the government had stated its desire to have a survivor-centred process, abuse victims did not feel engaged in it.

He said: “The desire to have a survivor-centred process is a noble one, but these are empty words, as survivors do not feel engaged in the process.

“Survivors note that the Cabinet Secretary does not offer any reason as to why she is “unable” to meet with them.

“It seems rather strange that she is unwilling to meet with them, which flies in the face of the stated intention to engage with INCAS.

“With an election looming, survivors are surprised that Angela Constance is happy to treat people, who have suffered so much, with such indifference.”

The O’Brien Inquiry began its work in October 2015 and is to report within four years.

O’Brien has said she was unable to widen the scope of the inquiry.

Among the complaints made by survivors’ organisations is the failure of the Government to consider offering compensation to victims and help, both financial and specialist care and support. Inquiries into historical child abuse elsewhere in the UK and in other countries are looking at the question of redress.

WFA spokesman Andi Lavery said the organisation would not engage with the inquiry.

He said: “It remains deeply flawed and unfit for purpose.

“It represents only further trauma for those of us remaining to yet again endure in its current form.”

The Scottish Government insisted it was fully committed to supporting survivors of childhood abuse.

Constance said a decision had yet to be taken on reparation or compensation for survivors.

In letter to INCAS in December 2015, she said: “I am conscious that many survivors have waited too long for recognition and validation of their appalling childhood experiences but wish to ensure that any decision we take as regards to reparation arrangements addresses the complexities in meeting the needs of all survivors, as far as this can be achieved.”