Scots sex abuse victims ‘moving closer’ to apology and compensation

VICTIMS of historic sexual abuse may be a step closer to receiving apologies and compensation, after the Scottish Government agreed to enter talks.

Michael Matheson, minister for public health, said he hoped the meeting would take place within a month. The Scottish Human Rights Commission, (SHRC) which gave evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s public petitions committee, offered to host the talks.

Public and private bodies, including religious organisations, will be invited to take part.

The SHRC also urged MSPs to introduce legislation that would allow bodies to make full and frank apologies to victims, without the fear of leaving themselves vulnerable to civil action.

It remains unclear how compensation would be paid out, and by who, as children’s homes were run by many different bodies, and much of the alleged abuse pre-dated devolution.

Other methods of reparation will also be discussed.

Duncan Wilson, head of legal and strategy at the SHRC, said: “We recognise that compensation is one of the more challenging (forms of reparation).

“There are other steps that are of equal importance that are relatively cost free. We would host a human rights interaction, an opportunity for everyone with a stake in this to get around a table and negotiate.”

Mr Matheson said: “We’re looking to have this interaction before the end of the year if possible.”