Government to Investigate Alleged Comments by Abuse Victim Official

By Stephen Naysmith
Herald Scotland
September 7, 2016

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/homenews/14726613.Government_to_investigate_alleged_comments_by_abuse_victim_official/?ref=rss

Government to investigate alleged comments by abuse victim official

AN INVESTIGATION has been launched into a civil servant's alleged conduct towards victims involved in the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry.

Jessica McPherson, who works in the Scottish Government's In-Care Survivor Support Fund, has been the subject of complaints from a group representing abuse victims and from a leading charity, Falkirk-based Open Secret.

It has been alleged that Ms McPherson said it was "OK" for abuse victims to die if their demise resulted in greater support in future cases where there was a risk of suicide.

A spokesman for the Scottish Government said a fresh investigation into Ms McPherson's conduct had been launched after further information came to light.

He said: “Whenever serious issues, such as this, are raised with us, we examine them. We did this when these matters were first raised.

"Further information was provided direct to the Deputy First Minister last week. As a result of this further information coming to light, an investigation has been launched into these concerns.”

The allegations were made by Janine Rennie, chief executive of Open Secret, who was supported by a colleague.

The pair alleged Ms McPherson said it was "OK for clients to die for change to happen" during a discussion about about inadequate support for victims who could become suicidal.

Another victim of childhood abuse said that, when he told Ms McPherson he felt suicidal, the official replied: "Haven't you got over it yet?"

Meanwhile three members of the support group White Flowers Alba have separately made a complaint that the civil servant belittled their chairman Andi Lavery and made light of the abuse he suffered at a Catholic school.

The Scottish Government spokesman said: "The Civil Service official named in the media today works in the Survivor Support team.

"She does not and has never worked on the team supporting the Child Abuse Inquiry."

Although Ms McPherson does not work directly for the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry, victims of abuse say that her alleged behaviour has undermined their confidence in it.

She is head of strategy and delivery for care support and rights, including Survivor Support policy.

On Friday the Scottish Government told The Herald that the complaints about Ms McPherson had been investigated when they had first emerged. Mr Swinney had earlier told an MSP that Ms McPherson had been exonerated. However it has now emerged that the matter is not closed.

The Government said that, while her role is not specific to the inquiry, it involves support offered to all adult victims of abuse, including some involved in the inquiry.

However victims groups claim Ms McPherson has been involved in a string of meetings discussing support for those taking part in the troubled inquiry.

Former inquiry chairwoman Susan O'Brien QC announced her resignation in July amid after facing the sack for "unacceptable" comments.

Deputy First Minister John Swinney had began the formal procedure to remove her from her post in May.

Scottish Labour Education spokesman Iain Gray called for a parliamentary investigation into the "mess" surrounding the Scottish Child Abuse inquiry and said victims were being let down.

He said: "Labour has repeatedly called for the concerns of survivors to be listened to, their complaints of maltreatment to be taken seriously and the scope of the inquiry to be widened.

“As Parliament returns today the Education Committee should urgently carry out an investigation into the inquiry."

Meanwhile the Scottish Human Rights Commission has welcomed a Scottish Government’s commitment to remove a barrier to justice for survivors of historic child abuse as part of its legislative programme.

Commenting on the Scottish Government’s announcement that it will introduce a Limitation (Childhood Abuse) Bill to address the time limit on child abuse survivors bringing forward civil legal actions, Judith Robertson, Chair of the Commission, said: “Securing access to justice is an important human rights issue for survivors of historic child abuse. The Commission therefore welcomes the Scottish Government’s commitment to remove one of the barriers to justice that survivors face. This approach recognises that current time limitations on civil actions are not appropriate in cases of child abuse.”