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Fresh controversy engulfs troubled child abuse inquiry
A TOP civil servant is facing calls to resign amid claims she said it was “OK” for abuse victims to die if their demise resulted in greater support in future cases where there was a risk of suicide.
Campaigners are urging Deputy First Minister John Swinney to remove one of the key figureheads behind the inquiry into historic abuse at Scottish care homes following a string of complaints about her conduct.
Jessica McPherson, described as head of Strategy and Delivery Care Rights and Support for the Scottish Government, is alleged to have offended abuse survivors and charity leaders by saying “it was OK for clients to die for change to happen” during a discussion about inadequate support for victims who could become suicidal. She is a leading civil servant in the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry.
Janine Rennie, chief executive of abuse charity Open Secret, and project manager Safia Ali claim to have heard the alleged remark during a meeting to discuss a support team being established on August 24 last year.
The two charity workers say that they were shocked and twice asked Ms McPherson to retract her comments, but she repeated and confirmed them.
A client of Open Secret said that on a separate occasion, when he spoke of having suicidal thoughts, Ms McPherson asked why he had failed to get over the abuse he had received.
Paul, who did not wish to disclose his surname, said: “She said ‘haven’t you moved on?
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Source: http://www.philosophers-stone.co.uk/?p=14086
