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| Child abuse inquiry: Survivors accuse ministers of 'complicity' | Child abuse inquiry: Survivors accuse ministers of 'complicity' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Child abuse survivors have accused the Scottish government of "becoming complicit" in the cover up of offences. | Child abuse survivors have accused the Scottish government of "becoming complicit" in the cover up of offences. |
| They are to demand ministers change the remit of the inquiry established to investigate abuse allegations. | They are to demand ministers change the remit of the inquiry established to investigate abuse allegations. |
| Survivors' organisations, who are due to meet Education Secretary Angela Constance on Thursday, said she has ignored their concerns. | |
| The Scottish government said its level of engagement with survivors had been "unprecedented". | The Scottish government said its level of engagement with survivors had been "unprecedented". |
| The attack on the government came as the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry announced special measures to prioritise the testimonies of elderly or seriously ill people. | The attack on the government came as the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry announced special measures to prioritise the testimonies of elderly or seriously ill people. |
| Its chairwoman, Susan O'Brien QC, said: "We are not quite ready to issue a call to all survivors and witnesses to come forward, as we are arranging to put support in place for people who will find giving evidence upsetting. | Its chairwoman, Susan O'Brien QC, said: "We are not quite ready to issue a call to all survivors and witnesses to come forward, as we are arranging to put support in place for people who will find giving evidence upsetting. |
| "Unfortunately, not everyone can wait even a few more weeks, so we have decided to take evidence from a small number of survivors as a matter of urgency." | "Unfortunately, not everyone can wait even a few more weeks, so we have decided to take evidence from a small number of survivors as a matter of urgency." |
| Name change | Name change |
| The inquiry also said it was dropping the word "historical" from its title as it was prepared to hear allegations of abuse from as recently as December 2014. | The inquiry also said it was dropping the word "historical" from its title as it was prepared to hear allegations of abuse from as recently as December 2014. |
| In Care Abuse Survivors Scotland (INCAS) welcomed the moves, but said it was very concerned about the attitude of government. | In Care Abuse Survivors Scotland (INCAS) welcomed the moves, but said it was very concerned about the attitude of government. |
| It called on the government to widen the remit of the inquiry to include institutions such as the Catholic Church which is currently excluded from its investigations. | It called on the government to widen the remit of the inquiry to include institutions such as the Catholic Church which is currently excluded from its investigations. |
| In a letter to Ms Constance, INCAS parliamentary liaison officer, Alan Draper said: "The failure will result in institutions and organisations, who have covered up criminal activity, escaping public scrutiny, and prosecution. | In a letter to Ms Constance, INCAS parliamentary liaison officer, Alan Draper said: "The failure will result in institutions and organisations, who have covered up criminal activity, escaping public scrutiny, and prosecution. |
| "This has effectively resulted in the government becoming complicit in the cover-up of abuse." | "This has effectively resulted in the government becoming complicit in the cover-up of abuse." |
| He called on the government to ensure the inquiry's work could be as wide as that of Justice Lowell Goddard in England and Wales which is investigating abuse carried out within the Catholic Church and other religious orders. | He called on the government to ensure the inquiry's work could be as wide as that of Justice Lowell Goddard in England and Wales which is investigating abuse carried out within the Catholic Church and other religious orders. |
| The O'Brien Inquiry will investigate allegations of abuse carried out against children in residential care, including those fostered domestically. | The O'Brien Inquiry will investigate allegations of abuse carried out against children in residential care, including those fostered domestically. |
| Another survivors' organisation, White Flowers Alba (WFA), said Catholic victims were being discriminated against because the O'Brien Inquiry had not been given the necessary powers to investigate allegations of abuse carried out in parishes or day schools. | Another survivors' organisation, White Flowers Alba (WFA), said Catholic victims were being discriminated against because the O'Brien Inquiry had not been given the necessary powers to investigate allegations of abuse carried out in parishes or day schools. |
| WFA spokesman Andi Lavery said: "Survivors continue to suffer. Why does a child raped by a priest in Cumbria, matter more than one in Edinburgh, Glasgow or Motherwell?" | WFA spokesman Andi Lavery said: "Survivors continue to suffer. Why does a child raped by a priest in Cumbria, matter more than one in Edinburgh, Glasgow or Motherwell?" |
| 'Not fit for purpose' | 'Not fit for purpose' |
| He added: "When as children we said: 'No, please stop doing that!' | He added: "When as children we said: 'No, please stop doing that!' |
| "We say together resolutely as adult abuse survivors: 'This current inquiry is not fit for purpose'." | "We say together resolutely as adult abuse survivors: 'This current inquiry is not fit for purpose'." |
| At the meeting on Thursday survivors will also ask Ms Constance to clarify its position in relation to redress for victims. | At the meeting on Thursday survivors will also ask Ms Constance to clarify its position in relation to redress for victims. |
| Mr Draper said: "If damage is caused to your car, it gets repaired. | Mr Draper said: "If damage is caused to your car, it gets repaired. |
| "What survivors want is for their spiritual, emotional and physical damage to be repaired, for ongoing support to be put in place, and for reasonable compensation, not just for the damage caused but for the lost opportunities." | "What survivors want is for their spiritual, emotional and physical damage to be repaired, for ongoing support to be put in place, and for reasonable compensation, not just for the damage caused but for the lost opportunities." |
| The Scottish government said the independent public inquiry, launched in October, 2015, would be one of the widest ranging Scotland has ever seen. | The Scottish government said the independent public inquiry, launched in October, 2015, would be one of the widest ranging Scotland has ever seen. |
| A spokesman said: "The initial call was for an inquiry into the abuse of children in institutional care. We listened again and widened the scope to include a wide range of care settings. | A spokesman said: "The initial call was for an inquiry into the abuse of children in institutional care. We listened again and widened the scope to include a wide range of care settings. |
| "Ministers and government officials have engaged extensively with survivors and continue to do so, working with them to expand specialist support services and to look at removing restrictions preventing many from seeking legal redress (time bar). | "Ministers and government officials have engaged extensively with survivors and continue to do so, working with them to expand specialist support services and to look at removing restrictions preventing many from seeking legal redress (time bar). |
| "We know there is a willingness among many survivors to continue positive engagement with the inquiry. | "We know there is a willingness among many survivors to continue positive engagement with the inquiry. |
| "We will continue working closely with all survivor representative groups to deliver our commitments, including improved support and commemoration, while allowing the inquiry team to get on with its essential work." | "We will continue working closely with all survivor representative groups to deliver our commitments, including improved support and commemoration, while allowing the inquiry team to get on with its essential work." |