Cole-Hamilton: Fornethy women must be given the redress they deserve

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has today reiterated his call for the survivors of alleged abuse at Fornethy House to be allowed access to the Scottish Government’s compensation scheme for those abused while in residential care.

It comes as the Holyrood Petitions Committee concluded that the women should be granted access to the scheme. The survivors were previously told they do not qualify for the scheme because their visit to the school was only short-term.

When he was Deputy First Minister, John Swinney said he thought that “it is possible for Fornethy survivors to be successful in applying under the scheme."

Mr Cole-Hamilton said:

“The accounts of the alleged abuse the Fornethy survivors suffered as children are truly harrowing and utterly disgusting. The trauma they have been left with has impacted every aspect of their lives, and their relationships.

“Anyone who has met these women and heard their accounts first-hand will be determined to see them granted the recognition and compensation they deserve.

“When he was Deputy First Minister, John Swinney agreed that these women should fall under the remit of this scheme. I am glad that a Scottish Parliament committee has now come to the same conclusion.

“It is now time for the Government to do the right thing and grant these women the redress they rightly deserve.”