School ‘was just a paedophile ring’

Ex-pupil tells of his ordeal in ‘hellhole’ run by monks

A FORMER pupil at a top Catholic boarding school yesterday claimed the ‘hellhole’ was ‘nothing more than a paedophile ring’.

The man – who can only be identified as Andrew – told the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry how he was repeatedly sexually abused while attending St Joseph’s College in Dumfries.

In his evidence, he described his ordeal at the school – which was founded by the Marist Brothers religious order – in the 1970s.

The 60-year-old said he was preyed upon by his French teacher Brother Damian – a member of the religious order – and his colleagues at the school and at a nearby home for retired members of the order.

He said: ‘I describe it as a hellhole. All the b ****** s in that place covered each other’s back. It was nothing more than a paedophile ring.

‘I don’t enjoy life. I survive it. I have tried to take my life on numerous occasions. I have carried the guilt on my back all my life.

‘I have nothing but absolute hatred for these people.’

St Joseph’s College became part of the state system in 1981 but was a fee-paying institution before that time.

Andrew told the inquiry that he was a boarding pupil there between 1971 and 1975. He said that his parents had decided to send him there because of its excellent reputation.

However, he said he had felt very homesick and that Brother Damian – real name Thomas McCann – took advantage of that feeling.

Andrew said Brother Damian would come to the dormitory he was sleeping in and would take him to his room. Andrew told Colin MacAulay, QC, the counsel to the inquiry, that another brother who was supposed to care for the children at night never stopped Brother Damian from taking him away.

He said that this brother would often reprimand him for going to the toilet in the middle of the night.

Andrew added: ‘I used to be s**t scared about going to the toilet as there were swinging doors and he would hear them going – he’d be out like a shot.

‘However, he must have known that I was out of my bed... Damian took me away.’

Andrew said that on the weekends, Brother Damian would take him into Dumfries for treats.

He added: ‘I thought it was great – there was a Wimpy Bar there. I was getting a milkshake and a burger.

‘He wasn’t in his robes. I was hoping I’d bump into my mum and dad but I never did.’

However, Andrew said that he was abused afterwards by Brother Damian.

He said: ‘He took my top off. I knew what he was doing was wrong. He was places where he shouldn’t be.

‘I was absolutely petrified to see an old man doing that to me. I froze like a rabbit in the headlights.

‘I have tortured myself all my life about how I didn’t run out. I froze.’

Andrew also told the inquiry – presided over by judge Lady Smith – he was sexually abused at Kinharvie House, a retirement facility, and was left with physical injuries. He said he was also sexually abused by a priest at another location.

Andrew added that he was also physically abused. He said: ‘These b ****** s got as many kicks out of battering the headlights out of you as they did from the sexual abuse.’

His abusers also used the theology of the Catholic Church against him during the abuse. he claimed, saying: ‘These b ***** s are also using their religion by putting it onto you. They say that you are committing a sinful act.

‘I have nightmares every other night. You relive it over and over again. For 45 years I have felt angry and dirty.’

McCann, now dead, was charged in 1997 with indecent assault and shameless behaviour but the trial was dropped.

The inquiry, called to establish the extent of abuse of children in care in Scotland, continues.