The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Probe into Perth school as part of abuse inquiry
BALNACRAIG: Residential institution under scrutiny in major investigation
A Perth residential school will be investigated as part of a nationwide probe into historical child abuse, it has emerged.
Balnacraig School has appeared on a list of 17 extra institutions that will be scrutinised by the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (SCAI).
It brings the total number of establishments where abuse is believed to have taken place to 86.
Lady Smith, who chairs the inquiry, has confirmed Queen Victoria School in Dunblane and Ovenstone Residential School in Fife have also been identified.
The latest expansion of the farreaching probe comes three years after former Balnacraig School head teacher David Cowling was jailed for molesting two pupils in the 1970s.
Last year, it emerged Morrison’s Academy in Crieff was also part of the inquiry. The probe centres on the time when Morrison’s was a boarding school.
Alison Morley, chief executive at Balnacraig, said: “The welfare and safety of young people is at the core of our work and our safeguarding and child protection policies and procedures are robust, comprehensive and fully compliant with Scottish legislation and national guidance. The care we provide at Balnacraig was recently inspected with no concerns.
“We are committed to assisting the inquiry as it continues its investigations.”
A spokesman for Queen Victoria, operated by the Ministry of Defence, responded to the SCAI probe.
“All historic allegations of sexual abuse involving the school were reported to the police at the time,” he said.
“We take any allegations of this nature extremely seriously and always cooperate fully with any police inquiry.”
Gordon Wardrope, education manager with Fife Council, said: “We’re aware of the investigation into the former Ovenstone Residential School, and will assist the inquiry.”
Lady Smith has made a public plea for information. “Please would anyone who has any relevant information about any of these institutions contact the inquiry.
“It does not matter whether you have already made a report to the police or to anyone else, and it does not matter whether or not you have been involved in any other investigation.”
She added: “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.”
The latest list includes eight nonreligious and voluntary organisations, five local authority establishments, two healthcare premises and St Andrew’s School, Shandon, Dunbartonshire.
A third phase of the case study hearings will begin in October with an investigation of residential childcare establishments run by large-scale care providers Quarriers, Aberlour and Barnardo’s.