SCOTLAND
Herald Scotland
Pressure on the Scottish Government to widen the scope of an inquiry into historic child abuse has grown after a priest joined calls for institutions of the Catholic Church to be covered.
Father Gerry Magee, Parish Priest of Saint Winin’s Church, Kilwinning, has agreed to chair White Flowers Alba, a group representing victims of abuse within the Catholic Church.
The group is demanding the Government extend the inquiry, which is being chaired by Susan O’Brien QC, to include the abuse suffered by anyone at non-residential settings run by the church, including schools and nurseries. At present, unlike a similar inquiry in England, the Scottish inquiry only covers those abused in residential care.
Under-fire education secretary Angela Constance will meet victims of abuse tomorrow [Thurs] at Holyrood to hear their concerns. Fr Magee will attend along with members of White Flowers Alba, and his involvement with the group has been backed by the Bishop of Galloway, Bill Nolan.
He said: “I feel that the government is letting the people down and has let the people down. These people were treated like dirt by their abusers and they are continuing to be treated like dirt by the government and the Church.
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