The long awaited Chilcot report arrives this week and commentators are already giving warnings to other inquiries of lessons to be learnt. Meanwhile the Goddard Inquiry becomes more active announcing the position on broadcasting of the first four investigations.
Tag Archives: child abuse
Scottish Chair Resigns
The Chair of the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry, Susan O’Brien QC has resigned. The Deputy First Minister has written to parliament advising he had already initiated a formal process which could have led to removal of the chair from her post. Continue reading
Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry Statement
The resignation of Professor Michael Lamb from his position as a panel member of the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry has prompted a statement from the Chair. This includes an indication that requests for documentation from relevant organisations will be made soon.
Prof Lamb as we noted yesterday resigned due to his concerns about Government interference in the work of the Inquiry. The statement now made does not address any of the specific concerns he raised but thanks him for his invaluable contribution to the Inquiry, in particular for sharing his expertise in how to listen to survivors sensitively.
IICSA – a guide to the initial preliminary hearings
Preliminary hearings in four of the investigations resulted in a flurry of activity before Easter and have provided some clarification as to how the Public Hearings project will proceed. Common strands from the hearings, along with a subsequent press statement which focuses on false allegations, are as follows:
Supreme Court grants permission to appeal in NA v Nottingham County Council
The Supreme Court has given permission to the appellant (claimant) to appeal in the case of NA v Nottingham County Council.
Consequences of the proposed changes to limitation in Scotland
Following a consultation last year which received 35 written responses a very short draft bill has been produced by the Scottish Government which promises to make significant changes to the current ability for victims and survivors of abuse to bring claims for damages.
Worldwide responsibilities
Simon Wood was a Captain working for British Airways (BA). He was also a fundraiser for charities in Kenya and Uganda. In 2013 he was accused of child abuse in those countries. He was interviewed by the police. He was charged with one count of indecent assault of a girl under 16, two counts of making indecent photographs of a child and one count of possessing indecent images of a child. In August 2013 he took his own life. He had denied the abuse he was accused of but the loss of life meant that no criminal court would be able to consider the matter further. Continue reading