West Lothian women accused of being witches could be cleared hundreds of years later

dailyrecord.co.uk:

At least seven women from West Lothian could be among the thousands across Scotland who could be acquitted and pardoned centuries after they became victims of the 17th century witch-hunt which swept through Scotland.Some died at burning stakes in 1644 on Cunnigar Hill in Mid Calder- still known locally as Witches’ Knowe.

Their torture and executions were overseen by the local minister Huw Kennedy.Among the accused were Agnes Vassie, Agnes Bishop, Marion Gibson and Margaret Thomson.

The latter was acquitted after some horrendous treatment, including beatings, sleep deprivation and being forced to stand for 26 days.Records show Agnes Bishop confessed under torture to being a “common charmer and a heinous and notorious witch.”The Calder witches are said to have gained the same notoriety as the Pendle witches in Lancashire, England.A list of many other women castigated as witches in West Lothian includes Margaret Alexander and Barbria Parish from Livingston, who were executed in 1647.Janet Bruce, who lived in Netherwilliamston, an area off Murieston Road, was convicted in 1644.Now, 378 years after the Cunnigar Hill executions, West Lothian Council has backed a motion from SNP councillor Moira Shemilt to support the Witches of Scotland campaign for justice, led by Claire Mitchell QC.Councillor Shemilt’s motion said: “Council will instruct officers to write to the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, outlining its support for the above Campaign.

In addition, to reiterate the request of the Campaign, that the First Minister makes it clear, on International Women’s Day 2022, that the Scottish Government accepts that what happened to those accused of witchcraft was a terrible miscarriage of justice and to apologise on behalf of the