What Is the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry? What Is Its Aim and What Organisations Are Being Investigated?

By Matt Coyle
Scottish Sun
May 30, 2017

https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/1080683/what-is-the-scottish-child-abuse-inquiry/

THE Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry will focus on the abuse of children in care with the first hearings starting today.

The inquiry will raise public awareness of institutionalised abuse and reveal the reality of the suffering of child victims.


Who is heading up the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry?

The probe is being led by judge Lady Smith

Senior judge Lady Smith is chair and will lead the inquiry. She has been a judge since 2001 and brings a wealth of experience.

The judge was appointed chair of the inquiry after lawyer Susan O’Brien QC quit the post along with another panel member, Prof Michael Lamb, last year.

When do the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry hearings start?

The first hearings of the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry will start on Wednesday May 31, in Edinburgh.

It is one of the most far reaching public inquiries to take place in Scotland and the first round of hearings will see opening statements from the organisations asked to appear.

Expert witnesses will then discuss the laws governing children in care in Scotland up to 1968; the early development of care services in Scotland; attitudes towards children and the prevalence of child abuse in Scotland.

Hearings will be also held on Thursday, June 1 and Friday, June 2. They will then take place four days each week and is expected to last for about seven weeks.

Can the public go to the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry hearings?

The hearings will be held at Rosebery House in Edinburgh

Members of the public are welcome to attend the hearings although in some situations they may be asked to leave so evidence can be heard in private.

They will be held on the on the third floor of Rosebery House, 9 Haymarket Terrace, Edinburgh.

There is no reserved seating in the public area and the venue will open to the public at 9.30am each day ahead of a 10am start.