OBE Investiture for Children's Hearing pioneer

A Helensburgh woman who was awarded the OBE in the New Year’s honours list for services to the children’s hearings system, has received her decoration in an investiture near her home.

Kathleen Murray, a former psychologist and Glasgow University academic, received her award from Dunbartonshire’s Lord-Lieutenant, Mrs Jill Young MBE, in a ceremony in the grounds of Ardardan House in Cardross.

She was joined by friends and family, some of whom had travelled from the US for the day.

Deputy Lieutenant Elaine Ferguson read the Citation and the Lord-Lieutenant’s Cadet, Sergeant Lauren Carr, was also in attendance.

Kathleen played a pivotal role in the establishment of Children’s Hearings in Scotland and helped lay the foundations of today’s supportive and innovative system.

Starting as an Educational Psychologist lecturing at Glasgow University she became one of the foremost proponents of the Children’s Hearing system which was established in 1971.

One of the distinguishing features of the Children’s Hearings is the inclusion of lay members on the panels and for many years Kathleen was solely responsible for their training.

Volunteers are trained to understand the causes of delinquency, appropriate solutions and the alternative remedies available.

Over several decades working with the Children’s Hearings Kathleen was able to expand her energies and skills into other aspects of the justice system.

She pioneered and promoted the introduction of live remote video links for children giving evidence in Scottish courts in cases of child abuse therefore sparing a child further trauma.

Kathleen has a legacy of academic and published works which are referenced in Scotland, the UK and the USA where she has been acknowledged by the Department of Justice.

Following Kathleen’s retirement from the University of Glasgow she was invited to join the board of Barnardo’s.

She said, ‘it was a great privilege to contribute to the development of a unique system of juvenile justice that for the most part keeps children out of court.’

Mrs Young said, ‘Kathleen is thoroughly deserving of her honour which recognises her tremendous contribution to Scotland and the Scottish justice system down many years.’