ABUSE survivors are set to protest at the Scottish Parliament after being excluded from a scheme which would see victims compensated for their experiences.
The Fornethy Survivors group were left distraught last month after Deputy First Minister Shona Robison declared them ineligible for monetary compensation.
The women were the subject of sexual and physical abuse while residing at respite home Fornethy House Residential School in Kilry, Angus during its existence from 1961-1993.
The survivors, who were aged between five and 11-years-old at the time, shared how they were beaten, force-fed and drugged with a milky substance before being dragged out of their beds.
Despite this, Robison claimed that the victims are not eligible for the Redress Scheme as their stays were temporary, with records having been expunged.
The group is now set to protest at Scottish Parliament next week in the hopes of convincing the government to change its decision.
Lead campaigner for the Fornethy Survivors, Marion Reid, said: “We are here to protest and campaign against the government’s stance on Redress, which the Fornethy women believe we deserve.
“Shona Robison has shown no empathy toward us. She has the power to give us closure and justice.
“We will continue to fight for justice for each and every little girl that had the misfortune to be sent to Fornethy House.”
MSP Colin Smyth will be supporting the women when the issue will be mentioned at the committee next week.
He addressed the Scottish Parliament last year saying: “[The women] thought they were going to rest and recuperate but instead, they were abused physically, mentally and – in some cases – sexually.
“I want to give a voice to those women’s fight for justice. I want to help ensure what happened to those wee girls at Fornethy is finally properly acknowledged.
“I am grateful to the many MSPs from every party in this Parliament who have signed the motion and are showing their support to those brave survivors.”
He added: “The impact goes way beyond the day on which it closed its doors in June 1993.
“Under the agreement, Fornethy House was to be used to support and sexually assaulted daily by the people who were supposed to protect and ensure the highest level of care for them.
“They were denied contact with family members during their stay, with mail intercepted and responses written under strict instruction by staff.
“The only escape for victims was when their residency would finally come to an end.”
