The Sunday Times

August 14, 2005

Abuse report cover-up claim
Mark Macaskill
MINISTERS have been accused of suppressing a damning report into the collapse of one of Scotland’s biggest child abuse investigations.

The report, details of which were revealed in The Sunday Times last week, concludes that the girls at the centre of the inquiry in the Western Isles were subjected to years of physical and sexual abuse and is highly critical of the way the inquiry was conducted.

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However, the 150-page document, which was to have been published last Thursday, was withdrawn at the last moment amid fears that it could lead to legal action being taken against the Scottish executive.

Dozens of copies of the report by the Social Work Inspection Agency (SWIA) had been sent to libraries across Britain, but were recalled hours later.

According to sources close to the executive, civil servants were also forced to cancel their booking of Lews Castle College, in Stornoway, which was to have hosted the report’s launch.

Last night children’s campaigners and opposition politicians demanded an explanation from the executive and called for the report to be published so that its recommendations could be implemented. Sources close to the case have raised concerns that the report would be watered down.

Seven men and one woman were arrested in 2003 in a series of co-ordinated raids on the Isle of Lewis and in Dorset, Leicestershire and West Yorkshire, following claims that they were part of a satanic child abuse ring. They were charged with sex offences involving girls under the aged of 16. However, all charges were dropped without explanation by the Crown Office last year.

The SWIA report, which makes 31 recommendations, raises concerns about the way medical evidence was gathered, how child protection orders were served and the
way information on vulnerable children was shared between the police and health and social workers.

The report also raises questions about why the girls’ abusers have not been brought to justice, despite an 18-month investigation involving four forces, 100 officers and costing more than £100,0000.

According to executive sources, the report was handed to ministers in April and “cleared” by legal advisers last month.

However, Peter Peacock, the education minister, is understood to have directed his own advisers to scrutinise the document. Peacock has refused to explain his decision or to give any indication of when the report will be published.

A senior legal source, who asked not to be named, confirmed that there was “huge” concern about the Lewis report at the “very highest level”.

“It’s fair to say ministers, including Peacock, are very concerned about the report as it stands,” said the source. “There is a huge amount of scepticism about the validity of a report prepared by social workers dealing with the findings of other social workers.”

Last night Kenny Macaskill, the SNP justice spokesman, demanded an urgent explanation from ministers as to why the report was being withheld. “The time delay is unacceptable. This matter is of great importance to the public, to the children involved and to future policy. If there’s a good reason for the delay they should explain it,” Macaskill said. “They should be publishing at least extracts. It’s far too long a delay for all children in Scotland.”

Colin Mackenzie, president of the Association of Directors of Social Work, said it was vital that lessons were learnt from the report to ensure children were protected.

A spokesman for the executive, said: “This is a difficult issue, the content matter is contentious and we are not prepared to comment.”

Additional reporting: Mike Merritt