SCOTLAND
The Times
Julia Horton
October 18 2016
The Times
The senior judge appointed to lead the Scottish government’s child abuse inquiry has urged victims and witnesses to come forward.
Lady Smith said she was determined to find out “what happened, where, how and why”. The inquiry will examine historical allegations of child abuse in Scotland and is expected to last four years. It will look at the extent of abuse of children in care and identify any systemic failures.
Lady Smith replaced Susan O’Brien, QC, as chairwoman of the inquiry after Ms O’Brien quit the post in July citing government interference. A second member of the three-person panel, Professor Michael Lamb, also resigned over similar concerns, leaving Glenn Houston, a social care expert, as the sole remaining member until Lady Smith’s appointment.
Lady Smith, who was appointed to the Inner House in 2012, said she was “personally committed” to the inquiry. The inquiry needed to “acknowledge and record the suffering” of children abused in care. She added: “[The inquiry] will investigate how children were failed, what went so badly wrong, identify what makes residential care safe for a child and make recommendations about what we consider is required to ensure that now, and in the future, the welfare of children is truly paramount and children are properly protected.
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