I can't help but wonder if I had heard Kevin's call.. I could maybe have persuaded him to keep living

Mum speaks out after son's anonymity snub, Furious family say they are losing faith in review

- MARCELLO MEGA

THE mum of an abuse survivor who took his life after being refused anonymity by the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry has shared his tragic messages.

Mary Sutherland, from Edinburgh, speaking for the first time since her son Kevin's death a few days before Christmas last year, has also made it clear that she holds inquiry chair Lady Smith responsible for her loss.

Kevin Sutherland died nine days before his 34th birthday.

He gave evidence to the inquiry in 2022 and revealed he had suffered gross sexual and physical abuse while in care during a difficult spell in his childhood.

He signed an anonymity waiver allowing the inquiry to use his real name but later regretted it when he realised his statement was online, possibly forever.

He had also failed to realise that his statement could be accessed and read by anyone who Googled his name after it was uploaded.

Despite repeated pleas for it to be removed, or for a pseudonym to be adopted as it had for many others, Lady Smith refused to bend to his wishes, citing his decision to sign the waiver. Kevin posted on social media from near the Forth Bridges that he was about to die, blaming the inquiry for his decision.