HUNDREDS of victims of sexual, physical and psychological abuse at the hands of priests and care workers are to march on the Scottish Parliament in a push for greater recognition and compensation.

People who were abused while in Roman Catholic orphanages or homes such as those run by Quarriers believe a system of redress should be adopted such as was established in Ireland and an inquiry carried out as was done in Northern Ireland.

Victims will lobby MSPs ahead of a meeting on the issue on November 29 to argue that there should be a new legal framework mirroring the Irish system, which would allow victims to be spared fighting their case in open court.

Helen Holland, 52, who was sexually abused in a children’s home run by nuns and priests in Kilmarnock will join the march from Parliament Square in Edinburgh to Holyrood.

She said: “Every other country where there has been a history of similar abuse is addressing that formally – they have faced up to it and acknowledged and implemented ways to help survivors.
People have died waiting for this. To wait this long to have our human rights acknowledged is preposterous
“We don’t know why the Scottish Government has not been prepared to listen. This is long overdue – many people have died waiting for this. To wait this long to have our human rights acknowledged is preposterous.”

In the Irish redress system, set up 10 years ago, the burden of proof is lower than the “balance of probability” test used in civil courts. The institutions responsible make the compensation payments.

It is thought many hundreds of people may have suffered systemic abuse in more than 100 care institutions in Scotland in the last 70 years.

Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray supports a system for compensation, backs campaigners’ call for an inquiry and also believes there should be a victims’ rights “tsar”.

He said: “Labour believes the system does not always put victims first and that’s why we have campaigned for a Commissioner for Victims’ Rights and the creation of Scotland’s first Victims’ Fund where those who offend are forced to help pay for services for victims of crime.

“When it comes specifically to abuse, Ireland has shown what can be done and we would welcome a judicial inquiry.

“It’s the right thing to do and Scotland’s victims of abuse deserve better treatment.”

The Scottish Government earlier this year completed the Time to Be Heard pilot scheme, which allowed former residents of Quarriers homes to be heard by an expert panel.

Some victims have welcomed plans to widen the scheme, however, others have argued that the forum did not do enough in terms of accountability.

The Scottish Human Rights Commission is to give evidence at the meeting later this month.

The Herald understands it will reiterate its previous call that the Government should develop a reparations programme that includes compensation and look at developing laws to encourage apologies by institutions.

Currently, victims in Scotland must take their claim to court within three years of alleged abuse taking place or face, it is claimed, a near-impossible struggle for compensation.

This time-bar is to be extended from three to five years under the Government’s plans, but is still too restrictive according to campaigners.

Victims of abuse before 1984 – the cut-off year for claims set out in earlier legislation – must also undergo a court challenge if they want compensation.

A spokesperson for Quarriers said: “We fully supported the Time to be Heard pilot forum and would carefully consider any further developments.”

A spokesman for the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland declined to comment as orphanages were run by autonomous Catholic religious orders.