Woman wins legal aid to sue over child abuse scandal

The landmark case will shine a spotlight on the Orkney scandal in the 1990s, when 17 children were snatched in dawn raids from their South Ronaldsay homes and taken into local- authority care.

It was alleged the children, aged between eight and 15, had been the victims of ritual abuse, and that there was a paedophile ring operating on the island.

The case is being brought by May Willsher, 25, who was eight when social workers removed her from the family home in November 1990. She claims her childhood was destroyed when she was needlessly put in care.

A sheriff later ruled the social workers' evidence was seriously flawed and the children were returned to their homes.

Ms Willsher, who now lives in England, said she had been the victim of a witch hunt by overzealous social workers who were determined to break up her family. She claims she was sexually abused while in foster care, and is seeking damages from Orkney and Shetland social work department.

"We kept telling them that we had not been abused, but they wouldn't listen," she said. "A massive injustice has been done to my family and they have to rectify that. I'm so pleased that we have got legal aid and I'm looking forward to having my day in court."

Sheriff David Kelbie, who threw out the original case, said the children had been subjected to cross-examinations designed to make them admit to being abused.

The scandal resulted in a judicial inquiry by Lord Clyde, who criticised social workers, police and childcare agencies.

Ms Willsher insists no family abuse took place and remains deeply critical of the interview techniques used. She says she was under intense pressure from social workers to give them the "evidence" they wanted.

Cameron Fyfe, her solicitor, said she had suffered severe emotional damage as a result of the six years she spent in care.

"This is an opportunity for all the facts to come out," Mr Fyfe said. "Ms Willsher will give evidence about the way social workers handled the case."

Orkney Islands Council declined to comment on the case yesterday.

Last month, Ms Willsher urged MSPs to ditch a law that places a three-year "time-bar" on damages claims involving young victims. Legal experts are now expecting the "time-bar" rule to be swept aside following a recent House of Lords judgment.

Under Scots law, personal- injuries claims can be lodged only within three years of the incident occurring. When the victims are children, claims must be made within three years of their 16th birthday.

But the hopes of abuse victims were revived by a law lords' ruling last month involving the "Lotto rapist" Iorworth Hoare. The House of Lords ruled that a woman whose life was ruined following an attempted rape by Hoare now has the right to pursue a damages claim against him, despite the time limit.