Former Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry lawyer John Halley charged over sexual offences

A lawyer who was part of the Scottish Child Abuse (SCAI) Inquiry has been charged in connection with sexual offences.

John Halley, 59, was arrested at an address in Caddonfoot, near Galashiels, on February 15 and is due to appear at Livingston Sheriff Court at a later date.

The advocate was appointed as a lead junior counsel to the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry by former chair Susan O’Brien KC in 2015.

He stopped being instructed by the inquiry and has done no work for it since October 2016.

SCAI is chaired by Lady Anne Smith, a Supreme Court judge in Scotland, who was appointed in August of the same year.

The inquiry was set up to investigate the abuse of children in care homes across Scotland.

It is looking into whether the organisations responsible for children in care failed in their duties and will report their findings to Scottish ministers.

It will then publish its recommendations on how to improve the law around children in care in Scotland “as soon as reasonably practicable”.

Halley, who is also a part-time sheriff, claimed in 2019 that there were links between Scotland’s legal establishment and the sexual exploitation of children in care in a 48-page “note” to prosecutors.

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) said “investigations into this matter are ongoing”.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 8.30am on Wednesday, February 15, 2023, officers executed a search warrant at an address in the Caddonfoot area, near Galashiels.

“A 59-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with sexual offences.

“He is due to appear at Livingston Sheriff Court on a later date.”

A spokesperson for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service added: “A report has been received and is under consideration by the procurator fiscal.”