Abuse inquiry concerns need urgent investigation

Herald Scotland
September 6, 2016

http://www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/14724620.Abuse_inquiry_concerns_need_urgent_investigation/

The Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry has had a rocky history. With a huge remit, by June this year it had run up costs of £1.8 million, yet had still to hear from the vast majority of witnesses.

With key appointments concluded last October, by July it had lost two out of its three key panel members. The acrimonious resignation of the Chair Susan O'Brien QC followed within a week that of one of her deputies.

Separately, the Scottish Government has yet to legislate, as it has promised to do, to resolve legal issues that prevent many victims from pursuing civil claims against their abusers.

Despite claims of consultation, there is widespread unhappiness about the Survivor Scotland model being proposed for supporting people who may be traumatised by memories re-awoken during the inquiry process.

The inquiry has to satisfy diverse groups representing adult victims of abuse, many of whom have lasting difficulties as a result of what happened to them at children. It is fair to say that confidence in its ability to do so is at an all time low.

So the revelation that a key official at the heart of arrangements for the inquiry appears to have lost the confidence of many of those due to take part in the inquiry is a major problem. Jennifer McPherson is alleged to have made disparaging comments to some historic abuse victims, and been dismissive of their concerns.

The claims against Ms McPherson are just that at present - only claims. Any comments she is said to have made are unproven and that is far from immaterial.

However it is significant that John Swinney instructed officials to take action to remove Ms O'Brien as chair on the basis of two comments she made in a private meeting, reported by a single individual.

When Ms O'Brien quit before she could be ousted the deputy first minister said publicly he feared the impact on confidence in the inquiry which her comments might have, should they have been heard by survivors.

Why did Mr Swinney feel the need for urgent action in that instance, but not in this one, where a number of people claim equally sensitive comments were made directly to survivors of abuse? It leaves him in a difficult position.

The government says some of the comments in question, have been investigated and officials exonerated. It has not clarified the nature of the investigation, which appears not to have included interviewing the two workers at abuse charity Open Secret, who made the allegations.

The inquiry has important work to do, and Mr Swinney may well feel that further disruption is the last thing he needs. The Scottish Government says it has a duty of care to Ms McPherson.

But levels of confidence in the whole process are now so low, that it will not do to simply ignore these allegations. Any civil servant involved in piece of work so high profile and sensitive cannot be immune to scrutiny. A proper investigation of these claims needs to be carried out, it needs to be urgent and above all it needs to be transparent.