Sex charges against priest dropped...but prosecutors won’t say why
A PRIEST extradited to Scotland over accusations that he sexually abused children in his care will no longer face charges.
The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) has dropped the case against Father Robert MacKenzie, 87, who was facing at least 16 charges of physical and sexual abuse.
The alleged offences were said to have taken place at Fort Augustus Abbey school, Inverness-shire, from 1955 to 1988. He had been living in Canada latterly but was returned to Scotland in February last year after an extradition process which began in 2016, three years after the alleged offences were reported.
He was remanded in custody for 13 months before being granted bail.
Now his alleged victims have learned their former teacher will no longer face trial. Complainer David Walls told the BBC he was ‘disappointed’.
He said: ‘Justice isn’t about putting criminals behind bars, as much as it is for delivering the truth for the victims of the alleged crimes.
‘That truth is extremely important, in this case in particular because it reflects on the integrity of the whole structure of the Catholic church.
‘There has been huge cover-up, not only in this country but across the globe and to dismiss this case simply makes it easier for those in authority to bury it.’
COPFS said that it has a ‘duty to keep cases under review’ but declined to expand on why proceedings had been dropped. A spokesman said: ‘After careful consideration of this case, Crown counsel has now concluded there should be no further proceedings.
‘To respect the rights of all those involved in the case it is not appropriate to provide further details of a decision not to prosecute.’
Procurator fiscal for High Court sexual offences Fraser Gibson said: ‘COPFS appreciates that it has been a difficult time for all those involved. Following a detailed review of the facts and circumstances of the case, proceedings are now at an end.’
Earlier this year, a Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry report found Fort Augustus Abbey was a ‘haven for paedophiles’. It came after another monk at the school, Father Denis ‘Chrysothom’ Alexander, was extradited from Australia and jailed in June this year for sexual offences against two boys in the 1970s.