Residential child care establishments run by male religious orders within the Roman Catholic Church
Beginning in the summer 2019, phase 4 of hearings will investigate residential child care establishments run by male religious orders with particular focus on:
- The Order of Benedictines and their provision at Carlekemp in North Berwick, and also at the Fort Augustus Abbey School
- The Marist Brothers and their provision at St Joseph’s College, Dumfries and also at St Columba’s College in Largs.
- The Christian Brothers and their provision at St Ninians in Falkland, Fife.
Lady Smith, Chair of the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry said: “In July this year, we completed the hearings in the second of our case studies into the provision of residential care for children in Scotland by female religious orders.
“At that time, I announced that, in 2019, we would begin a case study into the provision of such care by male religious orders.
“Investigations into establishments run by male religious orders and other preparatory work are well underway. We have been pleased with the response to date.
“We are now able to give details of the three male religious orders and their establishments we will have a particular focus on.
“Please would anyone who has any relevant information about any of these orders and schools 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.
“You can still talk to us and we want to hear from you.
“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.”
It should be noted that at a later stage the Inquiry will look separately into the provision of care by the De La Salle Brothers, who ran a number of institutions in Scotland.
The first phase of the Inquiry’s hearings began on 31 May 2017 and focused on the background and context to the Inquiry including the history and governance of institutions and expert evidence on the legislative and regulatory framework for children in care.
It should be noted that the Inquiry will return to this phase as soon as is practicable.
In October of this year phase three of the Inquiry’s hearings will commence, investigating residential child care establishments run by large scale care providers, Quarriers, Aberlour and Barnardo’s.
The Inquiry’s witness support team can be phoned on 0800 0929 300, or emailed at talktous@childabuseinquiry.scot
Individuals can also write to the Inquiry by post at SCAI, PO Box 24202, Edinburgh EH3 1JN.