Fife abuse victim to hold vigil

A man who was trafficked to Ireland and drugged and raped by multiple men while in the care of a former residential home in Fife is to hold a vigil in Edinburgh on the opening day of the Scottish child abuse inquiry.

Dave Sharp, 58, who says he was abused whilst in the care of the Christian Brothers running the former St Ninian’s School in Falkland, intends to hold the vigil outside Rosebury House tomorrow to remember “all victims of abuse”.

Mr Sharp, who was awarded £15,000 from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority in 2015, said: “As far as the programme goes the plan is for the vigil to be from 9am to 5pm.

“At 1pm we will all stop for a minute’s silence to remember all the children (across the country) whose lives were lost or taken because of child abuse and also to remember all the survivors who died without ever seeing justice.

“What we are asking for is the leaders of all the political parties in Scotland to join us and for the First Minister to light the first candle and hopefully lay a wreath or a bunch of flowers in memory of all the lost children.”

The inquiry aims to raise public awareness of the abuse of children in care.

Over 60 institutions are being investigated over a period expected to last four years.

Among those being investigated are Balgowan List D School and the Roseangle Orphanage in Dundee.