Vulnerable children in Scottish care institutions were "stripped of their dignity" and lived in environments where violence was "endemic", an inquiry has heard. A survivors' group told the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry that children with long-term needs "had no opportunity to flourish and fulfil their potential" in residential establishments.
The inquiry heard closing submissions on Friday related to its examination of 17 residential establishments for children with long-term disabilities and additional support needs. These included Lennox Castle in Glasgow, Donaldson's School for Deaf Children in Edinburgh, St Vincent's School for the Deaf and Blind in Edinburgh and Melville House in Fife.
Survivors' testimony highlights systemic failures
Simon Collins represented In Care Abuse Survivors (INCAS) as he delivered the group's closing submission to Lady Smith's inquiry. He emphasised the "particular vulnerability" of children in these institutions, many of whom struggled with communication.
Collins said: "But those factors do not excuse the reality that, once again, the inquiry has heard that children often had nowhere to turn when something happened to them. Where they did raise an issue, it was rare for them to be believed and for something to be done."
He noted that corporal punishment was routinely used in some institutions, with little regard for the children's education. Deaf children were punished for using sign language with their peers, according to his submission.
Endemic violence and humiliation documented
Collins painted a disturbing picture across all institutions investigated. He said: "The picture presented in this case study, across all the institutions investigated, is one of children being stripped of their dignity, of being routinely humiliated, living in environments where casual violence was endemic."
He added: "Where they were not protected from abusive staff or from abuse by their peers. They had no opportunity to flourish and fulfil their potential - they were not thought to have any potential."
Extensive investigation reveals widespread abuse
Phase 9 of the inquiry heard from 133 witnesses across 43 days of hearings. More than 11,000 documents were gathered during the investigation process.
Ruth Innes KC, senior counsel to the inquiry, summarised the evidence of systematic failures. She said: "The inquiry has heard evidence that children and young people suffered physical and sexual abuse. There was also serious emotional abuse and neglect, some children and young people were not afforded any dignity or humanity."
Innes explained that children were placed in institutions for "containment or control" of perceived challenging behaviour. She noted that corporal punishment was deployed contrary to government guidance, policy and legislation, while abusive staff behaviour was sometimes mirrored by children themselves.
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
