Sexual abuse statement

In light of a few stories that have been published in the press of late that you may or may not have already read, I would just like to take a moment to clarify that these stories have been cobbled together from various interviews I have given over the course of a 17 year career.

I also want to make it perfectly clear once and for all that I have never been the victim of a paedophile nor have I ever claimed to be.

I was a few weeks shy of my 16tth birthday, sixteen being the legal age of consent in Scotland, when I engaged in a fully consensual relationship with a teacher whose real identity I have always been careful to protect. At no point have I ever said this teacher was an employee of Edinburgh Council.

There are so many people who have been the true victims of sexual abuse throughout the world and they deserve justice and our compassion.

However I do believe a distinction must be made between a person who is within weeks of the legal age of consent and an innocent child.
Otherwise we all in danger of becoming distracted from the really serious issue at hand which is that of child abuse. An issue which genuinely demands our urgent and focused attention.

I thank you for taking the time to read this.
I have no further comment to make at this time.

Shirley Manson