A FORMER resident of a boarding school in the Highlands has claimed it was ruled by “hate and fear”.
The man, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was giving evidence to the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry in Edinburgh where he described regimes of physical and emotional suffering.
The latest stage of the inquiry heard opening statements for the investigation into care given by the Order of Benedictines at its residential establishments.
The witness, now in his 70s, was at the order’s Carlekemp boarding school in North Berwick, East Lothian, between the ages of nine and 13. He told the inquiry he has been “beaten up” by the priest there.
The witness then moved to the order’s Fort Augustus Abbey School in the Highlands, where he stayed until he was 18.
He described beatings during his time there that would leave boys “black and blue” and said children were made to take their pyjama bottoms off for punishments as the priests “enjoyed” it.
The inquiry heard the minimum punishment was 12 strokes of a leather strap on the hands, while the maximum would have been 10 hits with a birch branch on the backside.
These beatings were said to have been dealt out daily by the teachers – who were monks – for slight misdemeanours or perceived under-achievements.
The witness said: “The school was really ruled by hate and fear.”
The inquiry also heard that an enforced division between older and younger pupils helped breed an atmosphere of “institutionalised” bullying. The English Benedictine Congregation used the opening statements as an opportunity to apologise to those who had suffered harm while in its care.
The order also announced there had been 10 settlements reached in relation to alleged abuse, as of last month, with three claims still to be dealt with.
Funds raised from assets of the order’s Fort Augustus Abbey had been put into a trust to provide compensation to victims.
The inquiry before judge Lady Smith continues.
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