Former Angus pupils appeal for answers over historic abuse

Former pupils of an Angus residential school who say they were subjected to horrific abuse are appealing for locals to help them find justice.

The women who attended Fornethy House in Kilry between the 1960s and 1980s say they were regularly attacked, both violently and sexually, while attending the school.

Po l i c e Scotland are investigating allegations of historic abuse and more than 100 women have come forward in recent months.

Youngsters from working class families in Glasgow were sent to the girls-only facility, run by the city’s local a u t h o r i t y, for “convalescent” breaks, after it opened in 1961.

Some were as young as five when they were placed in the rural home and say they were regularly tormented by staff there.

They are calling for local people to come forward with information to back up their claims.

Former pupil Marion Reid was the first to open up with her story. She visited Fornethy for six weeks in 1964. She was told it was to keep her sister company, when she was sent there because she was underweight.

The 63-year-old claims she was frequently assaulted by employees, almost from the moment she arrived, at the age of seven.

She said the abuse she suffered has caused her lifelong trauma and contributed to se veral suicide attempts, starting at just 14.

She has helped form the Fornethy House Residential School Survivors Group and is pleading with people in Angus to come forward with any information they have.

She said: “There must be people who know things weren’t right at Fornethy.

“It was open over a period of 30 years so people who live around the village must know something.

“Until someone comes forward it’s just a waiting game for us and it’s so hard. We know there are people in the area who were around at the time – or their families were.

“Maybe they didn’t know exactly what happened at the time but now we’ve spoken up they do and they can back up everything we’ve said.”

Marion said she felt like giving up at the start of this year after no one else came forward, until one woman approached her out of the blue.

After media coverage of her allegations, many more came forward and there are now 130 women in the survivors group.

As well as the physical and sexual abuse, victims say they were force fed, ordered to eat vomit and told to stand for hours.

Marion said: “I have suffered all my life because of this. I have been looking for answers for 55 years.

“The police are doing a really thorough job but we wanted to appeal for people to come forward ourselves.

“It started with me and now more than 100 girls have come forward, so that shows it just takes one person.

“It’s so hard and none of us know each other but we’re like a wee family now.

“We all support each other, especially if we know one of us has a police statement or something hard like that to do.

“I know Kilry is a wee village and that might make people not want to speak up but that one person could be the difference for us.”

Detective Inspector Mark Lamont, from Tay s i d e Division, said: “A n investigation into reports of abuse at Fornethy house is under way and involves a number of victims.

“We will listen to any disclosure, regardless of the passage of time, and work with partner organisations who can offer further support.”

TRAUMA: Marion Reid, right, with Carol Whyte, who is also a member of the Fornethy House survivors group. Right, Marion as a young child.