Survivors of alleged child abuse at Fornethy House say they feel they are being “fobbed off” by Nicola Sturgeon.
A Courier investigation uncovered more than 160 allegations of physical, mental and even sexual abuse spanning decades at the residential school in Angus.
A group of survivors came to Holyrood on Thursday hoping to meet the first minister in person.
They wanted to share their experiences and for the Scottish Government to publicly acknowledge the abuse they say took place.
However, they say they are not convinced Ms Sturgeon will listen to their story.
‘She has fobbed us off every time’
Speaking after their case was raised at First Minister’s Questions, Carol Robertson said she expected more.
The 59-year-old attended Fornethy House in 1971 at the age of nine.
“I felt she never gave a convincing answer that she will look into this,” she told us.
“She has fobbed us off every time.
“I was hoping she would come out and meet us today and acknowledge us.”
What happened at Fornethy House?
Fornethy House Residential School opened in August 1960 after being gifted to Glasgow City Council under the agreement it was used to support disadvantaged girls.
Children from Glasgow were sent to the school near Kilry for short-term stays as a “holiday” to the countryside.
However, while at the school they were subjected physical violence, sexual abuse and being force-fed vomit.
The group travelled through Edinburgh to hear Labour MSP Colin Smyth put their calls directly to the first minister.
Mr Smyth said: “They bravely share their traumatic experiences of physical, mental and, in some cases, sexual abuse as young, vulnerable children who were sent there for respite.
“No one from the government has acknowledged this abuse even took place, despite the face hundreds of women have publicly come forward.”
In response Ms Sturgeon said she would consider the request, but added: “It is important to say the deputy first minister met with them in June this year.
“We will continue to listen and respond to them and we are doing everything we can to address their concerns.”
Elaine McLaughlin, who shared her story of sexual abuse when she was 10 with The Courier, added: “We want justice and peace, it is as simple as that.
“They don’t listen to what we have to say and Nicola Sturgeon never comes out to see us.”
No access to compensation scheme
Another issue is the victims of Fornethy House abuse are not able to claim financial compensation from a scheme set up by the government for victims of abuse in care.
In 2021, Fornethy House survivors were told they are not eligible to apply for the Redress compensation scheme because ministers chose to exclude those in short-term care.
Ms Sturgeon said the government will continue to work with the survivors’ group about eligibility for this scheme.
However, Ms Robertson added: “We want answers, it is not about money.
“We want whoever has done this to face court, someone has got to be put in front of a judge to say how we were treated was wrong.”
MSPs plan site visit to Fornethy
During their visit to the Scottish Parliament the women also tearfully shared their own experiences with Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton and Mr Smyth.
The pair are now planning to arrange a site visit to Fornethy House with the survivors, which SNP MSP for Angus South Graeme Dey has said he will try and attend.
They are also wanting to try and arrange a parliamentary debate on this in the Scottish Parliament.
Read our Fornethy House investigation here:
Abused as children while on holiday in Angus. Now these women want justice