JENNY Gilruth, MSP for Mid Fife & Glenrothes, has welcomed the passage of the Limitation Childhood Abuse Scotland Bill in the Scottish Parliament.

The Bill, which will have retrospective effect, removes the three-year time limit in which victims of childhood abuse can bring a civil action against their abuser – meaning that survivors can pursue justice later in life.

Commenting, the Kinglassie MSP said: “This Bill is a big step forward in ensuring that survivors of childhood abuse are able to access justice later in life.

“While bringing a civil action may not be the right solution for all survivors of child abuse, it is vital that survivors have the choice to come forward as and when they feel ready to do so".

She added: “Those who have suffered abuse as a child may delay disclosing the trauma for a whole host of reasons, including a difficulty processing what has happened to them, feelings of shame, suppressed memories or indeed pressure from the abuser.

"And it’s important that they have the choice to take the time to come forward.

“While it remains the case that the courts will weigh up the available evidence in each individual case, these changes to the law will give survivors the all-important choice about what actions they can legally take to seek justice.”