Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry to investigate residential child care establishments run by male religious orders

PHASE Four of the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (SCAI) will look into residential child care establishments run by male religious orders within the Catholic Church, it has been announced.

Beginning in the summer of 2019, investigations will begin into The Order of Benedictines and their provision at Carlekemp in North Berwick, and also at the Fort Augustus Abbey School.

There will also be hearings regarding The Marist Brothers and their provision at St Joseph’s College, Dumfries and also at St Columba’s College in Largs and The Christian Brothers and their provision at St Ninians in Falkland, Fife.

In July this year, the SCAI completed hearings in the second of their case studies into the provision of residential care for children in Scotland by female religious orders.

Lady Smith, SCAI Chair, announced that the next year would see a case study into the provision of such care by male religious orders.

Today, Lady Smith said: “Investigations into establishments run by male religious orders and other preparatory work are well underway. We have been pleased with the response to date.

“We are now able to give details of the three male religious orders and their establishments we will have a particular focus on.

“Please would anyone who has any relevant information about any of these orders and schools contact the Inquiry.”

Lady Smith added that it does not matter whether anyone thinking of getting in touch had already made a report to the police or to anyone else, and it does not matter whether or not they have been involved in any other investigation.

“You can still talk to us and we want to hear from you,” she said.

“I am well aware that it can be difficult and very emotional to talk about experiences in care and I want to take this opportunity to give an assurance that we have a dedicated witness support team here who will help and support anyone providing evidence to us.”

At a later stage, the Inquiry will look separately into the provision of care by the De La Salle Brothers, who ran a number of institutions in Scotland.

The first phase of the Inquiry’s hearings began on 31 May 2017 and focused on the background and context to the Inquiry including the history and governance of institutions and expert evidence on the legislative and regulatory framework for children in care.

The Inquiry will return to this phase as soon as is practicable.

In October of this year phase three of the Inquiry’s hearings will commence, investigating residential child care establishments run by large scale care providers, Quarriers, Aberlour and Barnardo’s.

The Inquiry’s witness support team can be phoned on 0800 0929 300, or emailed at talktous@childabuseinquiry.scot

Individuals can also write to the Inquiry by post at SCAI, PO Box 24085, Edinburgh EH7 9EA.