Family of victim call for inquiry chair to go

THE family of a sex abuse victim who took his own life after a judge refused his plea for anonymity have joined forces with campaigners calling for her to quit.

- BY MARCELLO MEGA

One year ago today, Kevin Sutherland ended his life at the Forth Road Bridge after the chair of the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry, Lady Smith, decided he could not remove his name from the probe's website.

First Minister John Swinney has now received a letter from Kevin's mum Mary, of Edinburgh, with more than 60 supporters, including TV star Nicky Campbell, calling for Lady Smith to go.

The note says unless the retired judge is replaced "the conclusions of the inquiry will have very limited credibility".

Kevin's mum Mary and sister Melanie blame Lady Smith for their loss and believe her "disregard" of his pleas suggest she is unfit to chair the inquiry.

Mary said: "I'm still as upset as I was on that first day and maybe even more because Lady Smith has not apologised and shows no sign of stepping down.

"I'll never get over it and I'll never forgive that woman."