This items first appeared on the BBC website here under the headline “Nuns Anne Kenny and Agnes Reville cleared of assault” Agnes Reville and Anne Kenny were cleared of assault charges Two nuns have been cleared of assaulting girls in their care at an approved school in Renfrewshire. Anne Kenny, 79, known as Mother Rosaria, and [...]
Nuns win historic abuse case – police woman accuses investigating officer of unprofessional conduct.
May 22, 2013 from Leave a Comment
New support group launched in Scotland
November 27, 2011 from Leave a Comment
A new support has been launched in Scotland for supporting families who have experienced injustice. A spokesman for the group said they are consulting with users and professionals to decide which way their organisation should go in.
Blueprint to reform criminal law in Scotland
November 17, 2011 from Leave a Comment
The Scottish Government undertaken a review of the future of Scots law and practice A major review which offers a considered examination on the future of Scots law and practice following the UK Supreme Court’s Cadder ruling last year and the impact of recent legislation on criminal procedure was published today. Justice Secretary, Kenny MacAskill [...]
Charity worker sacked over false domestic abuse claims was ‘unfairly dismissed’
August 26, 2011 from Leave a Comment
A charity worker sacked after being the victim of false domestic abuse claims by his ex-fiancee was unfairly dismissal, a tribunal has ruled. Patrick Clark was fired from Maxie Richards Foundation, based in Bearsden, East Dunbartonshire, following the allegations made by Joanne Lynch. Mr Clark took the organisation to an employment tribunal after his ex-lover’s [...]
Bristol Innocence Project ask Scottish CCRC to reconsider referral
August 25, 2011 from Leave a Comment
The University of Bristol Innocence Project have recently made a submission to the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission in response to its Statement of Reasons not to refer William Beck’s conviction back to the High Court of Justiciary. The submission (in redacted form), UoBIP Press Release and the BBC Scotland coverage of the story also [...]
Innocent until proven guilty? Not in cases of alleged child abuse
August 25, 2011 from Leave a Comment
There is an excellent letter by John MacCleod in the Scottish Review (here) poublished on the 10th August 2011 in response to the JIm Fairlie case which compares the rspoonse to the investigation of allegations in general and the investigations of how allegations of child abuse are investigated.
Innocent until proven guilty? Not in cases of alleged child abuse
August 11, 2011 from Leave a Comment
Innocent until proven guilty? Not in cases of alleged child abuse. This article written by John MacLeod appears on the Scottish Review Website here Kenneth Roy does well to address the issue of what befell Jim Fairlie [in the The nightmare of a Scottish politician wrongly accused]. Few other than those who have, like Jim [...]
Man falsely accused friend of having sex with under age girl
June 30, 2011 from Leave a Comment
This item has been extracted from the STV website here A man who falsely accused his friend of having sex with an under age girl has been ordered to carry out 100 hours of community service. David McGhee called 999 on two occasions to claim that his friend was in a sexual relationship with a [...]
Scottish Government publishes rape conviction statistics
June 23, 2011 from Leave a Comment
The Scottish Government have issued a press release (21/06/2011) following publication of recent rape conviction statistics. It says:- “Conviction rates for rape charges in Scotland 2008-0921/06/2011The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Services has today published a report on conviction rates for rape charges in Scotland during 2008-2009.The main findings are:The number of charges of rape [...]
Matthew George loses appeal over Kerelaw School abuse
April 19, 2011 from Leave a Comment
This item appeared on the BBC website earlier today (here) A man who preyed on troubled children at the former Kerelaw School in North Ayrshire is back in prison after losing his appeal against conviction. Former art teacher Matthew George was jailed for 10 years in 2006 for a series of physical and sexual assaults [...]
Scottish Group fear new policy on hate crime will lead to unfounded allegations
March 16, 2011 from Leave a Comment
This article appears on the Scottish Catholic Observer Website under the title Hate crime’ reports to take precedence? New guidance on crimes against homosexuals and minority groups is published Police officers in Scotland should treat crimes against homosexuals and minority groups more seriously than general crimes against the public, according to controversial new ‘hate crime’ [...]
False Allegations Action Scotland is calling on Ministers to make sure that those whose lie are publically shamed
January 18, 2011 from Leave a Comment
False Allegations Action Scotland is calling on ministers to make sure that those whose lies are exposed can be publicly shamed. They are set to launch a bid to get the law altered in Scotland. Spokesman Eamonn Kelly said: “There are doting dads who have been falsely accused of the worst kind of abuse against [...]
Scottish Government consult on the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (Remedial) (Scotland) Order 2010
November 17, 2010 from Leave a Comment
The Scottish Government are consult on changes to sex offenders register. Covering Letter Police Division T: 0131-244-2149 25 October 2010 Dear Consultee Consultation on the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (Remedial) (Scotland) Order 2010 The Scottish Government has published a consultation document on the enclosed Order which makes amendments to Part 2 of the Sexual Offences [...]
Kerelaw employee to sue over claims
November 9, 2010 from Leave a Comment
A social worker worker is suing his former bosses for £100,000 claiming he was smeared by cover-up allegations at a secure unit for troubled kids. Andrew Walker, 64, worked at Kerelaw Residential Unit in Stevenson, Ayrshire, which was shut in 2006 following a police probe. Two workers were jailed for abusing kids while a three-year [...]
Scotland Government consult on Sex Offender Registration
November 7, 2010 from Leave a Comment
The Sexual Offences Act 2003 (Remedial) (Scotland) Order 2010 This Order makes amendments to Part 2 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 to provide sex offenders, who are subject to the notification requirements of that Part for an indefinite period, with a mechanism for the review of the justification for continuing to remain subject to [...]
Historical Abuse Systemic Review: Residential Schools and Children’s Homes in Scotland 1950 to 1995
November 5, 2010 from Leave a Comment
Our attention has been drawn to a detailed review of Historical Abuse Systemic Review: Residential Schools and Children’s Homes in Scotland 1950 to 1995. Although written in the Scottish context much of it relates to residential care generally and through out the UK. The research includes an excellent literature review The authors are: Robin Sen, [...]
Scotland: Protection of vulnerable groups – scheme delayed
November 4, 2010 from Leave a Comment
The Scottish Government have confirmed that their new safeguarding scheme has been delayed. In a Media Release they say… Protection for vulnerable groups The introduction of a new scheme to improve the protection of vulnerable groups has been postponed until February to ensure the system which supports it is as robust as it can be [...]
Supreme Court rule the practice of the police in Scotland interrogating detainee without access to legal advice is unlawful
October 28, 2010 from Leave a Comment
The following summary (see below) of the Supreme Courts decision in the Cadder V HM Advocate (Scotland) case which concerns an accused rights to legal representation appears on the the Incorporated Council of Law Reporting for England & Wales Today’s website here. The full judgement can be accessed here on the Bailii website. HUMAN RIGHTS [...]
Do we really know what we think we know about child abuse narratives
September 20, 2010 from Leave a Comment
Our attention has been drawn to an excellent article by Mark Smith, Senior Lecturer in Social Work, University of Edinburgh, concerning Victim Narratives in Residential Child Care. You can download an on-line copy of this article here
It must be made clear when a person was wrongfully convicted
September 9, 2010 from Leave a Comment
The following article appeared in the NEWS.Scotsman on the 9th September Someone – Mr or Ms X – has been charged with a criminal offence. He or she has stood trial and has not been convicted. How do the news bulletins report it? That is accurate enough. But if some newsdesks opt instead for “X [...]
Largs man waiting to hear the outcome of his appeal
August 26, 2010 from Leave a Comment
Jailed Largs man Matt George will have to endure many weeks of waiting to hear the outcome of his appeal. Following two weeks of evidence last month, proceedings were concluded at the High Court in Edinburgh – but it could be September before the former art teacher discovers if he has been successful in his [...]
Scottish Government has announced that its Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme (PVG Scheme) will begin on 30 November 2010.
July 28, 2010 from Leave a Comment
The Scottish Government has announced that its Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme (PVG Scheme) will begin on 30 November 2010. The PVG Scheme will: help to ensure that those who have regular contact with children and protected adults through paid and unpaid work do not have a known history of harmful behaviour; be quick and easy [...]
Matt George’s make-or-break appeal at the High Court in Edinburgh.
July 18, 2010 from Leave a Comment
Jailed Largs man Matt George has commenced his make-or-break appeal at the High Court in Edinburgh. Last Tuesday, the former teacher of Kerelaw Residential School in Stevenston began his bid for freedom after years of protesting his innocence. Back in 2006, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison for physical and sexual abuses against [...]
‘For a year in prison I was treated like the scum of the earth, but I was innocent of rape’
July 12, 2010 from Leave a Comment
Should men accused of rape be given anonymity? One man cleared of the crime explains to Mark Hughes why the answer is yes. In his cell at HMP Addiewell, Jason Duncan knew it was only a matter of time before the story he had concocted for his own safety would fall apart. Falsely accused of [...]