Today the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (SCAI) will begin hearing closing submissions relating to Phase 8 of its investigations.
The focus of the case study has been the abuse of children in residential accommodation for young offenders under 18, children and young persons under 18 awaiting trial, and young persons under 18 in need of care and protection.
A range of organisations were directly responsible for the provision of the residential care, including local authorities, religious bodies, voluntary organisations, and the Scottish Prison Service.
Phase 8 began in September 2023 and concluded on 31 January 2025 after over 150 days of oral hearings. The evidence of 454 applicants was covered in the case study, with 133 applicants and 101 other witnesses providing oral evidence.
Thirty-nine establishments were investigated in the case study, and many individuals provided evidence not only of their own experiences but also of the experiences of others, including siblings or friends who were unable to give evidence themselves.
SCAI’s investigations into abuse at those establishments covered the period from 1930 to 2014.
The case study explored the nature and extent of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse including the abusive use of corporal punishment, restraint, and segregation.
Senior counsel to SCAI Colin MacAulay KC said: ‘Applicants across all establishments spoke of the impact, often lifelong, of their experiences in these settings.
‘Some common themes in that regard were:
- having a lack of trust in people, especially those in authoritative positions
- a negative impact on education and lifelong learning
- an inability to form and maintain relationships
- a fear of doors and locked spaces even within their own homes
- a feeling of shame about sharing their experiences – with their partners and family in some instances as well as in more formal settings
- a belief that being in these settings in the first place introduced applicants to a life of crime that they went on to become involved in
- the effect on their mental health and that, in many cases, leading to addiction, such as to alcohol and/or drugs
‘It is quite striking that of the 454 applicants in total, 313 – approximately two-thirds – entered the care system in need of care and protection.
‘The evidence of many, if not most, of the applicants throughout the phase was that they did not report what was happening to them in these settings at the time.
‘Some said they had no one to tell. Some said they had been scared to do so. Some feared that reporting would make their situation worse. Other applicants said that, as children, they did not know that what was happening to them constituted abuse.
‘The evidence of many was that they feared they would not be believed. Some applicants described being warned not to report and being told that there could be real consequence for themselves or their families if they did so.’
Closing submissions from all parties with leave to appear will begin today and run for three days.
Wednesday 12 February (commencing at 10 am)
- Inquiry counsel
- INCAS
- De La Salle order
- Salesians of Don Bosco
- East Lothian Council
- South Lanarkshire Council
- Archdiocese of Glasgow
- St Philip’s School
- St Mary’s Kenmure
- The Good Shepherd Sisters
- Renfrewshire Council
- Glasgow City Council
Thursday 13 February (commencing at 2 pm)
- Church of Scotland Social Care Council
- Archdiocese of St Andrew’s and Edinburgh
- Loaningdale School Company Limited
- Dr Guthrie's Boys & Girls
- Rossie Young Peoples Trust
- Aberdeen City Council
- Inverclyde Council
- Kibble Education and Care Centre
Friday 14 February (commencing at 10 am)
- City of Edinburgh Council
- HM Chief Inspector of Prisons
- Care Inspectorate
- Police Scotland
- Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
- Scottish Government