Abuse inquiry challenge over Susan O'Brien QC dismissed

Susan O'Brien chaired the inquiry into the death of baby Caleb Ness

A judge has dismissed a legal bid by two Catholic charities to overturn the appointment of a top QC as chairwoman into historic child abuse in Scotland.

Lord Woolman refused the challenge from The Congregation of the Poor Sisters of Nazareth and the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent De Paul.

The Scottish Government's appointed Susan O'Brien to lead the probe.

The charities had raised fears of "apparent bias" relating to her involvement in a previous case.

It had been brought against the Poor Sisters of Nazareth.

The judge said that she only acted for her clients at a very late stage of the case to argue a point of law.

The inquiry will look at allegations of abuse in institutions, foster care, long-term hospital care and boarding schools

Ms O'Brien previously chaired a panel which investigated the death of 11-week-old baby Caleb Ness in Edinburgh.