John Swinney: Beastie House horror reveals Scottish child protection failures

The ‘Beastie House’ case demonstrates the “failure” of child protection measures in Scotland, John Swinney has said.

Social services failed to prevent the suffering of three children at the hands of an abuse ring over the course of seven years.

The Glasgow youngsters, whose identity is protected, suffered physical and sexual abuse and neglect, often going hungry and dirty.

Clear signs of harm were missed, including missed medical appointments and episodes in which the children begged neighbours for food. One child had to have 12 decayed teeth removed before the age of five.

Seven adults were convicted of abuse in 2023 and a learning review has since detailed a catalogue of what Claire Baker MSP told parliament are “institutional failures” that resulted in children suffering “degrading, violent and sexual abuse at the hands of adults who were supposed to be caring for them”.

The Labour MSP told parliament: “The heinous crimes committed are truly awful and heartbreaking. That this was able to happen in modern Scotland, where we have a multitude of children's policies and strategies that are supposed to protect children and recognise their rights is a disgrace.

“I recognise that the first minister has given an apology to a scrum of journalists, but that is not equivalent to giving a statement to parliament. And can I ask the first minister what he has to say to victims and to parliament about these serious failings?”

Speaking at FMQs, Swinney said he agreed with Baker about the findings of the report. He said: “I want to pay tribute at the outset to the children who, from my reading of the report, have demonstrated extraordinary, extraordinary strength and tenacity in being able to convey the suffering that they have experienced, and I express an unreserved apology to each of those children involved.

“It is clear from my reading of the report that there were serial, serious institutional failures in understanding and connecting all of the information that was available.

“I find it difficult to comprehend how that could be the case, because the information was so obvious and so compelling. But it demonstrates what has been an issue, which has occurred in a number of cases on different occasions, of the failure of institutions to make connections between information that comes together to therefore necessitate action and intervention, and that is just one of the key points of learning that must come out of this report.”

Swinney said education secretary Mairi McAllan is to meet with Glasgow City Council on the matter, which was discussed a cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

The SNP manifesto pledged a new law on the mandatory reporting of harm to children. It would cover adults “tasked with safeguarding” young people and follows debate on the matter during the last session of parliament.

He said: “I want to make sure that the lessons identified in this report are the source of challenge to all child protection committees in the country, because I agree fundamentally with the point that Claire Baker makes, that it is simply beyond comprehension that such experiences could take place in 21st century Scotland with the policy framework that we have in place.

“We have to honestly face up to the institutional failure that is involved, and I give her the commitment that the government will do so.”