Author J.K. Rowling has offered to fund legal action after a 13-year-old orphaned girl was housed alongside older teenage criminal boys in a secure unit in Scotland. The girl had reportedly requested to be moved to an empty houseblock at St. Mary's Kenmure in Bishopbriggs, Glasgow, stating she felt unsafe with the adolescent boys, aged between 15 and 17.
Her case was detailed in a report published this month by the Council of Europe's committee for the prevention of torture, following an inspection of the unit in June of the previous year. English social services had placed the girl at the unit due to a lack of alternative provisions. According to the report, she was the only girl among 11 boys at the facility.
Rowling, who has previously voiced concerns regarding gender identity issues, stated on X, formerly Twitter, that the situation highlights harm to the most vulnerable. She posted a link to her JK Rowling Women's Fund, inviting the girl or an adult acting on her behalf to contact them for legal funding. The fund's website states it supports individuals and organizations fighting for women's and girls' sex-based rights.
Inspectors at St. Mary's Kenmure found that to avoid isolating the girl, she was placed with sentenced and remanded boys. She had officially complained about not feeling safe due to past experiences and requested a transfer, which was denied. The report also noted other serious issues at the unit, including a staff member injuring a child during a restraint and disproportionate use of restraints on girls. Over a four-month period in 2024, 152 restraint incidents occurred, with 127 involving the two girls present at the time. The report also mentioned an allegation of sexual abuse leading to a staff suspension and a police report, as well as two staff dismissals for inappropriate restraint.
In October 2024, the Care Inspectorate halted new admissions to St. Mary's Kenmure due to serious risks to residents, giving the unit the lowest possible rating and citing high levels of restraint. St. Mary's Kenmure stated that the safety and well-being of children are their priority and that all placements undergo careful assessment. Scottish Conservative justice spokesman Stephen Kerr criticized the decision to place the girl in such a unit, calling it dangerous and illegal, and urged the Scottish government to ensure the law is followed.