Private school protected abusers for decades - inquiry

A boys-only private school has been criticised for a culture which involved "dreadful abuse'' of children almost continuously for six decades.

The Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry report into Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh found that from the 1950s to the second decade of the 21st century, there was a "more or less continuous line of indecency" from two named perpetrators.

Inquiry chairwoman Lady Smith concluded leadership of the school in this period was weak and child protection concerns were ignored.

The school has offered a sincere and unreserved apology to all former pupils who suffered.

Lady Smith's findings on the provision of residential care at the Edinburgh boarding school revealed one of the "prolific abusers", former pupil and teacher James Rainy Brown, took his own life after learning of a police investigation into his conduct.

The other, Mervyn Preston, had taught Rainy Brown as a pupil and the pair's abuse became "normalised for generations of boys", Lady Smith found.

She branded a total of eight teachers as "abusers".

Lady Smith said that "by the early 2000s, Merchiston thought itself a leader in the child protection field" but in reality "references were badly handled and child protection concerns ignored", while voyeurism and indecent assaults were common.

She added: "Abusers, and potential abusers, were sometimes protected by tradition, long service, or governor loyalty."

The findings, part of the inquiry's overall boarding schools case study, found that "in common with Loretto School, Morrison's Academy, Gordonstoun, and Queen Victoria School, children who boarded at Merchiston were exposed to risks of suffering sexual, physical and emotional abuse".

Lady Smith concluded the two main perpetrators at Merchiston were "virtually untouchable".

Lady Smith said: "From the 1950s to the second decade of the 21st century, there was a more or less continuous line of consistent indecency perpetrated by two prolific abusers, Mervyn Preston and James Rainy Brown.

"The former taught the latter, who then returned to Merchiston as a teacher, after which they worked together.

"They engaged in abusive behaviour which became normalised for generations of boys.

"In the cases of both those men, their longstanding service and positions of power in boarding houses rendered them virtually untouchable."

Following a poor inspection report in 2015, Merchiston was made subject to special measures by the Scottish government.

It was obliged to respond, and Lady Smith said it was "well led by its board of governors" and policies "were corrected and became meaningful".

Merchiston Castle School has issued an "unreserved apology".

Headmaster Jonathan Anderson and Gareth Baird, chairman of the board of governors, said in a statement Lady Smith's report is "detailed, fair and, at times, a difficult read".

It added: "It uncovers a history of unacceptable abuse suffered by many former pupils and highlights the enduring impact on their lives decades later.

"To all those who suffered abuse while in the care of Merchiston Castle School, we offer our most sincere and unreserved apology.

"No child should ever suffer harm, especially not in a place that exists to nurture and educate. Those who were abused by their teachers or their fellow pupils deserved better, and we are truly sorry that they were so badly let down."

The statement added the school is "wholeheartedly committed to ensuring the lessons of the past are fully learned".