Shamed Clergy Offer Apologies As Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry Begins

By Mike Wade
The Times
June 1, 2017

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/scotland/shamed-clergy-offer-apologies-as-scottish-child-abuse-inquiry-begins-qv8sb9rnk

Margaret McGuckin and Kate Walmsley, survivors of historic abuse, were at the inquiry yesterday

On the third floor of a building behind Haymarket station in Edinburgh, a suite of offices has been converted into a hive of legal activity by the Scottish child abuse inquiry.

In the largest of the rooms, lawyers, representing the inquiry itself, victims’ groups and about a dozen care organisations filled out much of the space. Everything was calm, ordered and obviously well paid. The inquiry has already cost ?5.7 million.

But in this same room were high emotions, and people ready to speak of bitter experiences. The few public seats were occupied by victims of abuse and their friends, while outside in the sun many more held a vigil.

The scale of the inquiry is vast, with its remit dating back to 1930. Its…