Fresh controversy engulfs troubled child abuse inquiry

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.

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Paul, who did not wish to disclose his surname, said: “She said ‘haven’t you moved on?

“I felt seriously let down.”

It is understood at least three grievances have been lodged with the Scottish Government about Ms McPherson’s conduct.

John Swinney, whose remit as Education Secretary includes the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry has told Falkirk East MSP Angus MacDonald that the allegations had been examined by former minister for mental health Jamie Hepburn MSP.

In a letter to Mr MacDonald, Mr Swinney said Ms McPherson had been fully exonerated by an investigation and that this had concluded the behaviour by Ms McPherson was “entirely correct”.

But Jannie Rennie, who heard the alleged comment, said neither she nor Ms Ali were ever interviewed about the incident they witnessed.

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