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PeterCherbi · Joined: 23 May 2007 Posts: 147 Location: Edinburgh

I see from weekend media reports, that First Minister Alex Salmond has stepped into the fray over last week's refusal by the House of Lords in London of the claims made by abuse victims in the Nazareth House scandal.

With great respect, and perhaps a hope for the future, I see that Mr Salmond has asked for a study into Ireland's "Truth & Reconciliation Commission", which I hope is a move by the SNP Government, at least it seems on the First Minister's part, to grasp the idea of T&R and implement it in Scotland, on a wide range of issues relating to injustice which only good could come from.

The report I refer to was carried by the Sunday Mail here : http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/news/...deny-them-justice-78057-20428434/

Fitting perhaps, the First Minister himself has stepped into the justice/injustice issue on T&R, where others in the Government have not seen fit to do so.

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My blog on issues of injustice in Scotland A Diary of Injustice in Scotland by Peter Cherbi

Injustice Scotland Campaign website : Injustice Scotland

Big Wullie · Joined: 25 Apr 2007 Posts: 548 Location: Glasgow

T & R

Well said Peter

It is time Mr MacAskill started doing his job, Maybe the First Minister will take head when he is next appointing Justice Secretary's.

I have said before Alex Neil would have been better suited for MacAskill's job and this story is clearly the icing on the cake.

Why has the first Minister stepped in ? many will be asking when it is a matter of Justice.

Perhaps too much Cooking Lager eh Peter

PeterCherbi · Joined: 23 May 2007 Posts: 147 Location: Edinburgh

Hi Wullie

Obviously it was too important an issue to waste or allow the possibility of the words not coming out right. Still no matter how you look at it, very strange the First Minister had to step into an issue which is obviously within the Justice remit.

Good for Alex.If the FM has to show a lead on Justice issues , that's fine with me !
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My blog on issues of injustice in Scotland A Diary of Injustice in Scotland by Peter Cherbi

Injustice Scotland Campaign website : Injustice Scotland

Nought Justice · Joined: 27 Feb 2008 Posts: 36 Location: Edinburgh

Messr Macaskill

you should resign in shame for your silence on this issue

wake up smell the coffee listen to the people for a change instead of lawyers but then again you are a lawyer with much at stake if you go against them.

i think a history check as a lawyer will reveal some interesting facts about you all lawyers have something to hide

why are you afraid to go against lawyers mr mac

Al · Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 8:48 am Post subject:

"Nought Justice" has it about right re Mr MacAskill, and is what i have rightly asserted about him from the outset.

Any "Justice" Secretary who deliberately withholds vital case file documents dating back 20 years (legal, medical, social "care", personal...) and damning / harrowing photographs from a family who are only requesting what is rightfully their property, and vital in obtaining the truth, justice and medical care and help, is not fit to hold the office he does and should be sacked forthwith. But it seems that Mr Salmond is just as cruel, uncaring and abusive of his office as his "Justice" Secretary undoubtedly is.

While some may think my comments about them over the past year are unfounded and OTT, i stand by these allegations until they can prove otherwise and note they have failed to take any legal action against the family concerned - which, in itself, speaks volumes. They are, as i have repeatedly said, free to do so at any time ... but a picture (or several hundred in this case) paints a thousand words...

The offer still stands to finally discuss matters and do what should have been done a few years ago.

Once again, we await your reply and you both have the full contact details of the family concerned, but a stone's throw away from Bute House...

Alex Salmond MSP / MP
First Minister of Scotland
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP

Monday 19 May 2008 [and Monday 5 May]

Dear Mr Salmond,

Request for the return of confidential photographs and files from the SNP - Letter No.18 (Since 12 February 2007) Requesting Same

Thank you for your last letter of 5 weeks ago. My apologies for this delay in responding, but I have been very unwell and can’t deal with matters as I would ordinarily prefer.

I have now copied my last letter to you of Thursday 3 April to Mr MacAskill twice, but get no response.

Perhaps you could now intervene in this very serious case of the terrible abuse, neglect and ill-treatment of my son over the past 19½ years – as I have been asking (begging and pleading with you in effect) over the past 15 months, since my first letter of 12 February 2007.

Thank you for your time and full co-operation.

I look forward to hearing from you personally in early course.

As with all previous letters to you, this letter will be copied to both your constituency office and the Scottish Parliament. [Resent Monday 19 May 2008 – cc: MacAskill]
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Do not be afraid of them therefore. For everything that is now covered will be uncovered, and everything now hidden will be made clear. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the daylight; what you hear in whispers, proclaim from the housetops.

Big Wullie · Joined: 25 Apr 2007 Posts: 548 Location: Glasgow

Al

Nice to see you back on the forum, Hope you are feeling well and in good health, Sorry to hear of your illness the past five weeks.

Nought Justice has no idea just how right he is in the case of MacAskill if the stories i have heard are true.

I have also seen videos of him praising Lawyers so what chance do we have of justice from him when we complain of the very same Lawyers he seeks to protect and praise.

I have said the same about SCCRC for a very long time now that they have no intention of ever investigating Defective Representation because it involves investigating their own.

The Lawyer certainly shows in Mr MacAskill's conclusions and opinions to an extent he is bias, Certainly him being a Lawyer and Justice Secretary are in conflict.

Can I suggest he moves and allows Alex Neil to take over as Justice Secretary, Someone with a better grasp of Injustice's, Someone with more compassion and most of all someone who is not a Lawyer

Al · Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 11:19 pm Post subject:

Hi Wullie

Thank you for the very kind words and what you say about Mr MacAskill is of course correct.

It is very sad to see that you are still having to fight for the truth and justice for yourself after all those years. What an indictment on our Scottish justice system and the SCCRC that 26 years on you should still have to fight as you do.

I wish you and your family well and hope that all the regulars to this forum (you, Kevin, Peter, Allan, Bryan, Guje, Maria) can one day find justice for themselves and their loved ones, and finally some peace of mind and heart.

All the very best to you all.
_________________
Do not be afraid of them therefore. For everything that is now covered will be uncovered, and everything now hidden will be made clear. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the daylight; what you hear in whispers, proclaim from the housetops.

Big Wullie · Joined: 25 Apr 2007 Posts: 548 Location: Glasgow

First Minister Takes On Justice Matters

As with the link above where our First Minister (And All Credit To Him ) has stepped into matters of injustice, He again takes on issues within the remit of Justice without the help of Mr MacAskill.

Clearly the best way forward for Guje and her family would have been for an FAI and why not, Her Daughter died while in our Country.

I think that is the least we could do for her.

Her article is here for all to see:

http://deadlinescotland.wordpress...takes-her-to-salmonds-front-door/

If Mr Salmond can open his door to these people then so too should Mr MacAskill who after all is supposed to be our Justice Secretary.

PeterCherbi · Joined: 23 May 2007 Posts: 147 Location: Edinburgh

While I do hope not, it seems the "Truth & Reconciliation" proposals made are not moving ahead as planned, according to articles in the weekend media which I reprint below for reference.

I think anything that can be done to move this policy forward, on a wide range of issues, should be done now, lest more self interested elements take the high ground and kill off measures to put an end to many cases & issues of injustice, which sadly, have made some a lot of money through the suffering of others ...

http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman....liation-bid-39doomed39.4352487.jp

Child abuse reconciliation bid 'doomed'

Published Date: 03 August 2008
By Fiona Gray

PLANS to offer "truth and reconciliation" to victims of historic child abuse appeared doomed to failure last night after campaigners predicted a widespread boycott of the scheme.

The Scottish Government has refused to abolish the legal time bar which prevents many child abuse victims from the 1960s and earlier suing their tormenters for compensation. Instead, it wants to encourage victims to tell their stories and abusers to admit their guilt without fear of prosecution.

But doubts are mounting about whether the "truth and reconciliation" process will even be delivered on time. Ministers promised consultation by the summer but last night acknowledged even that was "months" away.

And one leading campaigner for victims of historic child abuse predicted hardly anyone would use it if and when it was set up. He said no-one would come forward to admit their guilt and that it would achieve nothing for sufferers who still wanted compensation awarded in a court of law.

That had been ruled out by ministers, who fear attempts to bring prosecutions over the abuse of children in homes more than 40 years ago are doomed to failure because of lack of evidence. The present law gives victims only three years after they turn 18 to bring a case.

Frank Docherty, former chairman of In Care Abuse Survivors (Incas) and a historic abuse victim himself, said the truth and reconciliation proposals were an insult.

He said: "I am not interested in telling my story – I wanted them to come out and admit that abuse did go on in Scotland, but they have never done that. What happened to me was decades ago and I still get upset every day."

Docherty is still in regular contact with other historic abuse victims since Incas, a self-help group and lobby force, folded last year. He predicted nobody would attend the forums.

He said: "When we talk to each other it helps, but nobody would go to a third party and speak about it.

"The Scottish Government should lift the time bar and let us get justice, but they never will because they know if they did they would be liable for millions of pounds for neglecting children in homes."

Adeline Bowden, 46, from Erskine, campaigned for 13 years to be able to sue her abusers but the campaign came to an end after the House of Lords ruling earlier this year that the time bar could not be lifted.

Bowden grew up in the Nazareth House convent in Cardonald, Glasgow, in the 1960s, where she claims she underwent beatings, force feedings, and routine humiliation by the Poor Sisters of Nazareth.

The Poor Sisters of Nazareth had children's homes in Glasgow, Aberdeen, Lasswade and Kilmarnock, and all have been the subject of numerous allegations that children were abused. One nun, Sister Alphonso, was convicted in 2000 of four child abuse charges.

Bowden described the abuse she alleges: "We were put in cold baths for wetting the bed, then the bed sheets were wrapped around us and our pants were put on our heads. We were fed porridge and if you couldn't eat it one of the carers would spoon feed you.

"You would start gagging and they would force you to eat it. If you were sick you were made to eat your own vomit as well. You would end up on the floor in a heap and they would beat you."

Bowden said she will not take part in truth and reconciliation. She said: "This is the last thing we want. I have deliberately stayed away because the last thing I want or need is to keep being reminded of my abuse. My memories are hard enough to live with."

A Scottish Government spokesman denied the truth and reconciliation scheme was running behind schedule. He said: "We are carefully considering a Scottish truth and reconciliation forum, which will give survivors the chance to speak about their experiences and to help come to terms with the past.

"It will provide an opportunity to establish the facts, learn from the suffering and use the experience to help us to protect children in the future.

"We will consult publicly and with survivors of abuse, support organisations and other providers of care on our approach in coming months."
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My blog on issues of injustice in Scotland A Diary of Injustice in Scotland by Peter Cherbi

Injustice Scotland Campaign website : Injustice Scotland