The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Pair face lengthy prison terms for sex crimes against boys
Two men who taught at St Ninian’s are expected to be handed hefty prison sentences next month after being convicted of physical and sexual abuse against six pupils more than 30 years ago.
John Farrell, 73, and Paul Kelly, 64, preyed on youngsters at the Falkland school, which was run by the Catholic Christian Brothers organisation, between 1979 and 1983.
Farrell, from Motherwell, was found guilty at Glasgow High Court of four charges, while Kelly, from Plymouth, was convicted of seven charges.
The pair abused boys aged between 11 and 15 – many who already had a chaotic upbringing and whom they should have been protecting – to satisfy their depraved needs.
Farrell, who was the headmaster, was convicted of physically abusing one boy and sexually abusing three others, while Kelly was found guilty of sexually abusing two boys and sexually and physically abusing a third.
Three other men linked to St Ninian’s – ex-social worker Michael Murphy, 75; Edward Egan, 76; and William Don, 62 – had also faced abuse allegations, but these were thrown out during the trial.
More than 100 charges involving 35 boys had been initially filed by prosecutors.
Chief Inspector Nicola Shepherd, of Police Scotland, said: “It is thanks to the courage of those who came forward to provide us with vital information that we were able to bring Farrell and Kelly to justice for their crimes.”