Scots child abuse inquiry launches hearings into deaf & blind schools

The Herald Scotland

2 days ago

The inquiry says this section of hearings will cover 'physical, sexual, and emotional abuse including the abusive use of corporal punishment and restraint.' The old Donaldson's School for the Deaf, which was in Edinburgh, will be covered later in autumn 2025.
St Vincent's is part of the Roman Catholic Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul, and this is their fifth home that has been investigated by the inquiry.
A pupil at the Edinburgh Royal Blind School was already convicted for rapes that took place during the 1980s, but these hearings are unlikely to cover this same case.
Here's what you need to know about the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (SCAI)
Why was it set up?
The inquiry was set up to investigate and raise awareness of the abuse of children in care in Scotland. It has allowed for victims and witnesses to submit anonymous evidence about abuse that has taken place in care institutions, with over 1300 witness statements gathered so far. Their intention is not just to investigate cases, but to also cover the effects of abuse on children and their families, and report findings and recommendations to the Scottish government.
When was it set up?
It was set up in 2015, and after a series of panel members quit the inquiry in its first six months, it was then taken over by Lady Anne Smith, who has since chaired it. It was originally planned to last until 2019, but has continued for nearly 10 years.
How much has it cost?
So far the SCAI has spent around £98 million, and may reach £100 million by next year. This remains the most expensive public inquiry in the country. Police Scotland have also disclosed that they have spent an additional £12.3 million in relation to the inquiry, bringing total costs for the Scottish government to over £111 million. These costs, along with complaints from earlier panel members and survivor groups, have created criticism for the way the inquiry has been handled.
The Redress for Survivors (Historical Child Abuse in Care) Act, which was passed in 2021, now allows victims to receive between £10,000 and £100,000 in compensation if the abuse took place in residential care before 2004. As of 2025 over £150 million has been pledged in compensation directly from institutions of abuse.
What has it covered?
The inquiry has investigated 117 institutions for cases of child abuse, and has published 14 case studies on their investigations. Some of these institutions include several private schools, such as Scotland's oldest boarding school Loretto in Musselburgh, and Dunblane's Queen Victoria School. It also covered abuse at Edinburgh Academy, including testimony from broadcaster Nicky Campbell of abuse he suffered while at the school.
Across all investigations, the inquiry has covered abuse at religious care homes, voluntary organisations, specialist schools, healthcare establishments, prison services, and independent providers. Most recently, the SCAI has published reports on the Sisters of Nazareth nun run care homes, and the latest in private schools has been Merchiston Castle in Edinburgh.
What has it found?
Through the inquiry's lifespan they have uncovered and validated decades of previously unreported abuse. Some cases have also resulted in new criminal convictions.
The inquiry's own research has also laid out the reasons for why the inquiry was needed. They say much of the research that has been conducted so far has been 'particularly sparse' and they outline how there is actually no Scotland specific data on incidence rates of child abuse, only UK-wide data.
Previous inquiries like the Independent Inquiry Into Child Sexual Abuse in England and Wales, which concluded with a final report in 2022, found that the issue of child abuse was 'endemic', and its incidence rate was much higher than previously thought.
The Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry's witness support can be contacted by phone on 0800 0929 300 or by email here: [e-mail]