Cole-Hamilton presses for redress for abuse survivors

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton has today pressed the Scottish Government over its decision not to make survivors of abuse at Fornethy House eligible for Scotland's Redress scheme.

More than 200 women have now come forward alleging that they were sexually, physically and mentally abused in the 1960s and 70s at Fornethy House, an all-girls residential school in Angus.

The Scottish Government’s Redress for Survivors scheme pays out up to £100,000 and offers support to those abused in residential care. The Scottish Parliament Petitions Committee previously concluded that the women should be granted access to the scheme.

However, Fornethy survivors have been told that they do not qualify for the scheme because their visit to the school was only short-term.

Speaking in the chamber, Mr Cole-Hamilton said:

“The abuse that the Fornethy women endured as children is utterly, utterly appalling.

“Anyone who has met with them can’t help but feel a sense of fury at what they suffered and an admiration at their brave fight for justice.

“But now, they face the further injustice of being excluded from a scheme which exists to compensate people like them who were abused in care as children. Why? Fundamentally because they just weren’t abused for long enough.

“Last year, John Swinney said he believed “it was possible for Fornethy survivors to be successful in applying under the Redress scheme.” But this position has clearly changed.

“Does the Deputy First Minister recognise that by excluding the women from the Redress scheme she has not just denied them access to that compensation, but denied official recognition by the state and, ultimately, their quest for justice?”