Laurie Matthew - Where Angels Fear: Ritual Abuse in Scotland

Author Laurie MatthewFirst Published 2002by
Young Womens Centre1 Victoria RoadDundee
DD1 1EL

All rights reserved, no part of this publication may be reproduced,stored in a retrieval system,or transmitted, in any form or by any means,without the prior permission in writing of the publisher, nor be otherwisecirculated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it ispublished without a similar condition including this condition beingimposed on the subsequent purchaser.

Designed by DM GraphicsPrinted and Bound in Scotland byWoods of Perth Ltd

Chapter 3:
Ritual Abusep31 Conspiracy Theories (32)

Chapter 4:
Group Mechanicsp35 Rituals (42), Betrayal (48)

Chapter 5:
Beliefs and Faithp55 Why is it so hard to accept or believe? (58)

Chapter 6:
Meeting Placesp67 Tayside(69)

Chapter 7:
Organisationp79Organisation of Groups (82), The Fringes (85)

Chapter 8:
Common Objects associated with Ritualsp91

Robes (91) Masks, Altar (92), Candles, Bowls and Chalices(93),
Daggers, Swords and Knives, Horns, Bells (94), Bones and
Skulls, Insect and Creepy Crawlies, Animals (95), Curse Dolls
and Obects (96) , Cross Grouped Bible, Fire (97), Tarpaulin, Symbols (98)

Chapter 9:
Children involved in Ritual Abusep103

Born into it (106) Single parent marries into it (108),
Close relative or family friend takes them in (108), Foster carers (109)Childminders (110) Experiences of child survivors (111),
Children Getting out of Ritual Abuse (115)

Chapter 11:
Young People involved in Ritual Abusep131

Chapter 12:
Helping Young Survivorsp141 For non-abusive parents and carers (143)

Chapter 13 :
Adults involved in Ritual Abusep147

Chapter 14:
Living with Ritual Abuse Survivorsp157 Adoptive Parents and Carers (158), Partners (160), Friends (163)

Chapter 15:
Helping Survivors of Ritual Abusep169

Trust (169) Fear (171), Trying to leave a safe home (173), Suicidal
thoughts and compulsions (175), Self-injury (176), Hypnotism (177),Drugs (180), Dissociation (182), Flashbacks (184), Panic attaks (185),Sleeping problems (186), Sleepwalking (187), In time survivors needtheir independence (192)

Chapter 16:
Safety Firstp195

This book is the natural follow onfrom the last publication concerningritual abuse produced by the YoungWomens Centre and entitled, WhoDares Wins. Those who have readWho Dares Wins have described it as

A great deal of material has been written about
ritual abuse, which I havent managed to find the
time to read yet. This is because, being a simple
soul who only wants to help survivors in a
practical and supportive way, I find most books to be too academic or toofocused on therapy for my simple tastes. The truth is, I cant always understandthe big words used. While there is definitely a great need for these books,and I am certain that they help many survivors and the practitioners whowork with them, given that I found the books too academic, I looked aroundfor something a bit simpler.

After a few years of finding nothing simple enough for me, I decided thatmaybe there was a gap in the reading materials. I then made the decision towrite some very practical books to provide valuable information and helpsurvivors, their non-abusive family and their supporters.

There is a great deal missing from Who Dares Wins and also from thisbook. This is due to the fact that I have tried very hard to stay away from themore sensational side of the issue, and have also been determined to bringin the survivors perspective without using any of their experiences or exposingthem in any way. Their stories are their own, and
they may write them for themselves someday if they
ever choose to. In my opinion it is not my place,

nor is it my right, to write another persons story.

If anyone is hoping to read horror stories in this book, forget it. They quitesimply are not there. I have deliberately stayed as far away from describinggory details as I possibly could. The examples I have provided in this book,to try and clarify some of the events, are simple examples. Everything elsecan easily be left to human imagination. The only way to hear the real horrorof what goes on is to build trust with survivors and listen to them.

My aim in this book is to expose the abusers and their actions as much aspossible, and to provide as much information as I possibly can about howthe whole thing works, what they do, how they do it, what it does to thesurvivors and how people can help survivors. As I have no absolutely nocredibility to start with, it cannot be lost through believing in survivors andwriting about ritual abuse as a live issue in Scotland.

I make absolutely no apology for believing that ritual abuse happens inthis country, as I know beyond any doubt that it does. In this book, like theprevious book, I will not enter into the usual debates as to whether or notritual abuse happens and where on earth the proof of it all is. I personallyhave all the proof that I need in listening to, and working with survivors, andif anyone is searching for proof or that type of debate, you will definitely notfind it in this book. All you will find here is information about the subjectgained through many, many years of being with and listening to survivors.