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Investigations

We've created a timeline of how the Inquiry works – from opening an investigation to Lady Smith's findings, and the publication of a Case Study

How an Investigation works

1. Evidence is gathered from applicants

Witness support interview applicants. These are people who have come forward to describe their past abuse as children in care. Their statements are recorded and signed.

Find out more about giving evidence
2. Contact with the core participants responsible for the applicants' care

After reading the applicants' statements, Lady Smith decides who will become a core participant. She will ask the legal team to contact them The core participants must reply to the legal team in writing.  

Find out more about core participants
3. A decision to open a hearing is made

After considering all of the evidence, Lady Smith will make a decision to open a hearing.

Witness Statements
4. Hearings take place at Mint House Edinburgh

Each day of a hearing is devoted purely to listening to either applicants, expert witnesses or core applicants.  A hearing is not like a trial, it is about listening and asking questions in order for Lady Smith to make her recommendations.

Find out more about hearings
5. Lady Smith publishes her findings

After considering all the  evidence  presented during the hearings, Lady Smith publishes her findings and recommendations in print and online.  All the documents and transcripts of the hearings can be searched for in the Evidence Hub.

Search the Evidence Hub for findings

116 investigations have been announced

The Inquiry is currently hearing evidence on the Scottish Prison Service

  • Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul
  • Congregation of Christian Brothers
    • St Ninian’s Falkland, Fife
  • De La Salle Brothers
    • St Joseph’s, Tranent
    • St Ninians, Gartmore, Stirlingshire
    • Kenmure St Mary’s Boys’ School, Bishopbriggs
    • St Mungo’s, Mauchline, Ayrshire
    • St John’s Boys’ School, Shettleston
  • Congregation of the Sisters of Nazareth
    • Nazareth House, Aberdeen
    • Nazareth House, Cardonald
    • Nazareth House, Lasswade
    • Nazareth House, Kilmarnock
  • Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd
    • The Good Shepherd Centre, Bishopton
    • St Euphrasia’s
    • Establishments in Colinton, Edinburgh
  • Congregation of the Poor Servants of the Mother of God
    • St Mary’s, Balnakiel House, Galashiels
  • Marist Brothers
    • St Joseph’s, Dumfries
    • St Columba’s, Largs
  • Benedictines
    • Carlekemp School, North Berwick
    • Fort Augustus Abbey School
  • Salesians of Don Bosco
    • The St John Bosco School, Aberdour
  •  Bishops Conference of Scotland
    • Relationship between the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland and the above religious Orders and the role played by the Roman Catholic Church in connection with the residential care of children
  • St Andrew’s School, Shandon, Dunbartonshire
  • Crossreach
    • Ballikinrain School
    • Geilsland Residential School
    • The Lord and Lady Polwarth Home for Children in Edinburgh
    • Langlands Park (until 1985)
    • Tynepark
  • Quarriers
    • Quarriers Village
    • Overbridge
    • Southannan
    • Seafield
  • Barnardo's
    • Glasclune, North Berwick
    • Balcary, Hawick
    • Tyneholme, Pencaitland, East Lothian
    • Craigerne, Peebles
    • Blackford Road/South Oswald Road, Edinburgh
    • Stapleton Towers, Annan, Dumfries
    • Winton Drive, Glasgow
    • Cruachan
    • Thorntoun
  • The Aberlour Child Care Trust
    • Aberlour Orphanage, Aberlour
    • Aberlour Children’s Home (30 Quarry Hill, Keith)
    • The Sycamore Cluster, Fife
    • The Dowans
  • WHC Trust for Children
    • Widowers’ Children’s Home, Edinburgh
  • Dean & Cauvin Trust
    • Dean House Children’s Home, Edinburgh
  • Dr Guthrie’s Schools Association
    • Dr Guthrie’s Boys School, Edinburgh
    • Dr Guthrie’s Girls School, Edinburgh
  • Red House Home Trust
    • Red House Home, Musselburgh
  • Rossie Young People’s Trust
    • Rossie [Farm] List D School, Montrose
  • Provider unknown
    • Balgowan List D School, Dundee
  • Loaningdale School Company
    • Loaningdale List D School
  • Sailors Society
    • Lagarie House Children’s Home, Rhu
  • Salvation Army
    • Redheugh Adolescent Unit, Kilbirnie
  • Balnacraig School
    • Balnacraig School, Perth
  • Royal Blind
    • Royal Blind School
  • Oakbank School Trust
    • Oakbank, Aberdeen
  • Harmeny Education Trust Ltd.
    • Harmeny School, Edinburgh
  • The Donaldson Trust
    • Donaldson’s School for Deaf Children
  • Algrade
    • Algrade, Humbie
  • St Philip’s School, Plains
    • St Philip’s School, Plains, Airdrie
  • Provider unknown
    • Thornly Park School
  • Kibble Education and Care Centre
    • Kibble
  • Provider Unknown
    • Balgay/Parkview School
  • Fettes College
  • Gordonstoun
  • Keil School, Dumbarton
  • Loretto School
  • Merchiston Castle School
  • Morrison’s Academy (at the time it was a boarding school)
  • Queen Victoria School, Dunblane

Investigations into children who were boarded out or placed in foster care in Scotland

  • The City of Edinburgh Council
    • Clerwood Children’s Home
    • St Katherine’s Secure Unit/Howdenhall Centre/Gilmerton/Liberton Assessment Centre/Edinburgh Secure Services (ESS)
    • Glenallan Children’s Home
    • Wellington School
  • Perth and Kinross Council
    • Colonsay House, Perth
    • Nimmo Place Children’s Home, Perth
  • Fife Council
    • St Margaret’s Children’s Home, Elie
    • Linwood Hall Children’s Home, Leven
    • Ovenstone Residential School, Pittenweem, Fife
  • Glasgow City Council
    • Kerelaw Secure Unit
    • Larchgrove Remand Home
    • Downcraig, Castlemilk
    • Eversley Children’s Home, Pollokshields
    • Park Lodge, Calderwood Road, Glasgow
    • Beechwood
    • Cardross Park Assessment Centre
  • Aberdeen City Council
    • Brimmond Assessment Centre
  • Aberdeenshire Council
    • Coblehaugh Children’s Home, Inverurie
  • Argyll & Bute Council
    • Dunclutha Children’s Home, Dunoon
  • Dumfries & Galloway Council
    • Merkland Children’s Home, Moffat
  • Dundee City Council
    • Burnside
  • Inverclyde Council
    • Balrossie School
    • Langlands Park Secure Unit (from 1985)
  • North Lanarkshire Council
    • Bellshill Children’s Home
  • Renfrewshire Council
    • Barrholm Children's Home, Largs
    • Gryffe Children’s Home, Bridge of Weir
    • Newfield/Rowanlea
  • South Lanarkshire Council
    • Calder House
  • West Dunbartonshire Council
    • Hill Park Children’s Home, Hardgate
    • Bellfield Remand Home
  • NHS Dumfries and Galloway
    • Ladyfield West Children’s Hospital, Dumfries
  • NHS Forth Valley
    • Royal Scottish National Hospital, Larbert
  • NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde and East Dunbartonshire Council
    • Lennox Castle Hospital, Lennoxtown, Glasgow
  • Glenochil Young Offenders Institution
  • Polmont Young Offenders Institution
  • Barlinnie Young Offenders Institution
  • Longriggend Detention Centre, Airdrie