SCOTLAND
Daily Record
BY KATRINE BUSSEY , CATRIONA WEBSTER
The Scottish Government has pledged to “shine a light in the dark corners of the past” as it announced a top QC will lead a public inquiry into historic cases of child abuse.
Susan O’Brien QC, who has experience of representing abuse victims, will head the inquiry first announced by Education Secretary Angela Constance in December.
It will cover allegations of abuse of children in formal institutional care including faith-based organisations, children’s homes and secure care as well as those in foster care, long-term hospital care and boarding schools.
The Scottish Government said it also plans to lift the current three-year time bar for civil action in cases of historical child abuse since September 1964.
Ms Constance also announced £13.5 million over the next five years for a support fund for survivors of abuse in care, with a further £1 million for all victims of abuse.
The inquiry will have the power to compel witnesses to attend and give evidence, and the Education Secretary previously pledged that where crimes are uncovered the “full force of the law” would be used to bring those responsible to justice.
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