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Man abused by Christian Brothers monks in Scotland awarded £1.4m in damages

by Kelly Valencia

A man who was abused as a boarding school pupil has been awarded £1.4m in damages.

It’s believed to be the highest sum ever to be awarded to a survivor in Scotland.

The victim, who was twelve at the time of the abuse at St Ninian's School in Fife, was sexually assaulted and beaten by Brothers Ryan, Farrell and Kelly; three Christian Brothers monks from the Falkland school at the time.

Identified only as AB for legal reasons, the man said he had been abused on multiple occasions during his time there between February 1980 and April 1981.

54-year-old AB said the three monks would normally target children from a dormitory they referred to as "the favourite boys room".

He also shared how his older brother had similarly been sexually assaulted by the same men. AB only opened up about the abuse to his wife and daughter in 2013 when also reporting it to the police.

Following the ruling, AB said: “I used to hide all my emotions. If there was something about abuse on the TV then I’d go to the toilet and hide so no one would see any reaction on my face.

“So when I finally spoke to the police there was a strange duality to everything.

“It was terrifying but empowering. Exhausting but freeing. Painful but therapeutic.”

He continued: “"Even though the Crown couldn't prosecute anyone in relation to my evidence I am glad the Sheriff and court believed me.

"When it comes to justice in cases like mine people often ask things like 'It must have been worth the wait?'

"I know what they mean but no - it's never worth the wait. Not when you remember why we've been waiting.

"I'll always feel the pain. I'll always have flashbacks."

The inquiry into sexual abuse allegations in St Ninian’s School began in 2015, with The High Court in Glasgow hearing the testimony of victims who were aged between 11 and 15 when they were abused between 1979 and 1983.

In 2016, Brother Farrell was sentenced to five years in prison for four abuse charges while Brother Kelly was sentenced to ten for six abuse charges.

Brother Ryan died before he could be investigated in 2013.

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