Why isn't Kevin death probe boss speaking to us?

THE family of a man who took his own life after being refused anonymity by the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (SCAI) have hit out over a probe into his death.

- BY MARCELLO MEGA

Kevin Sutherland gave evidence to the inquiry in 2022, and revealed he had suffered repeated sexual and physical abuse in care.

He signed an anonymity waiver for the inquiry to use his real name but later regretted it when he realised his statement would be online forever.

Despite repeated pleas for it to be removed, inquiry chair Lady Smith refused.

Shortly before Christmas last year, Kevin, who was 34, posted on social media from the Forth Bridges area that he was about to die, blaming the inquiry. His body has never been recovered.

Kevin's sister, Melanie Watson, said his family remained angry about his treatment and had lost faith in the independence of the review set up to probe his death.

They blame Lady Smith for refusing his plea for anonymity and say she should have no role in the probe into Kevin' death. And they say they have had no contact to explain any progress.

Melanie said: “It’s seven months since we lost Kevin, and five since Jason Beer KC was put in charge of this supposedly independent review into the circumstances that ended with his death but, short of a letter introducing himself, we've heard nothing.