POLICE Scotland are investigating claims of historic abuse at Pluscarden Abbey in Moray.
The National understands allegations centre on the violent sexual abuse of a young boy and the physical bodily harm to two other young boys. Although details are scarce, it is believed the abuses took place in the 1960s and 1980s. Two men have separately come forward to discuss the alleged abuse with White Flowers Alba, a support and advocacy group for survivors of child sex abuse.
The Benedictine Abbey is a popular retreat for Christians and holiday makers, and has been a training place for novices.
Yesterday, the police were criticised by the White Flowers Campaign, for not acting appropriately when the group took the complaints of the two men to officers.
Andi Lavery, from the group, told The National that after a disastrous conversation with a police call handler in mid-July he then had to enlist the help of Barnardo’s Scotland director Martin Crewe to take the matter up with a senior officer.
Barnado’s have confirmed that they approached Police Scotland on behalf of Lavery and the two victims. Although they do not claim that the investigation into Pluscarden started because of their intervention.
Police Scotland initially denied an investigation into Pluscarden was taking place when The National asked for confirmation on Monday. It was only yesterday that a spokeswoman for the force admitted detectives were looking into the claim.
In a statement, the spokeswoman said: “Police Scotland can confirm that officers are investigating a report of non-recent abuse at Pluscarden Abbey in Moray. Inquiries are at a very early stage.
“Police Scotland will investigate all forms of child abuse regardless of when incidents have occurred and ensure that reports of child abuse are investigated thoroughly. Anyone who has been a victim of abuse can come forward in confidence, knowing we will listen and investigate”.
The National understands that the victim of sexual abuse alleges that he was taken from Glasgow to the Abbey in Elgin to be abused. Other alleged victims were pupils of Fort Augustus Catholic boarding school in the Highlands.
A spokesman for the diocese said: “The diocese and the Bishop are fully aware, as are the community at Pluscarden Abbey of the investigation into historical allegations. The community at Pluscarden and the diocese will be fully cooperative with any investigation”.
The Abbey dates back to 1230 and is a major tourist attraction in Moray. It is the only medieval monastery in Britain still inhabited by monks and being used for its original purpose. Monks left the abbey at the end of the 16th century but returned again in 1948. There are currently 20 monks who have chosen to “live a disciplined life of prayer and contemplation”. The Right Rev Hugh Gilbert, the Bishop of Aberdeen is a former Abbot of Pluscarden.
The Abbey recently announced plans for a £4 million renovation, to include a new library and facilities to allow women to stay. Previously any female visitors have not been allowed to join the monks for dining and have been made to stay in a guest house some way away from Pluscarden.
Lavery, who himself was a survivor of abuse at Fort Augustus, who is now heavily involved in White Flowers Alba, believes the Scottish Government’s judge-led inquiry into historic child sex abuse will mean a lot more men and women coming forward.
He said: “I want to fully support the national inquiry and I will support it in anyway I can.
“But the Government have to realise that these guys are coming to me in increasing numbers to disclose. And they’re approaching people like myself because they know they can trust us. We need support. I expect when we get into this we’re going to get loads of people coming forward and I don’t want to lose anybody.
“There’s going to be very dark days on this inquiry.”
Launching the inquiry last year, Angela Constance, the Education Secretary thanked those who had been abused and who had come forward.
She said: “I am conscious there are many more survivors who remain silent; as abused children they had no voice, no-one to cry out on their behalf at the appalling injustices they suffered while growing up and today they await the right circumstances for their experiences to be heard.
“I sincerely hope the public inquiry will provide just such an opportunity for them.
“And as a society we have an opportunity to confront the mistakes of our past and to learn from them.”
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