Monks Abuse Claims to Be Probed

By David Ross
Herald Scotland
July 31, 2013

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/monks-abuse-claims-to-be-probed.21740881

Police have confirmed they are investigating claims of sexual and physical abuse by monks at a former Catholic boarding school for boys in the Highlands.

Fort Augustus Abbey School, at the south western end of Loch Ness, was seen as a prestigious place of learning for the sons of Roman Catholic families. However it closed in 1993.

Now former pupils have told a BBC Scotland investigation they were molested and beaten by monks over a period of three decades from the 1950s.

It has also been claimed that abuse was carried out at Carlekemp in East Lothian which acted as a preparatory school for Fort Augustus. It also closed.

A police statement said: "Police Scotland Highland and Islands division are investigating historic reports of allegations of abuse from former pupils at Fort Augustus Abbey school.

"This is a live inquiry and therefore it would inappropriate to provide further comment at present."

Five men claimed on the Sins Of Our Fathers documentary, that they were raped or sexually abused by Father Aidan Duggan, an Australian monk who taught at Carlekemp and Fort Augustus between 1953-74.

Fr Duggan died in 2004, but some abuse claims relate to men who are still alive.

Dom Richard Yeo, abbot president of the English Benedictine Congregation, which unites autonomous Roman Catholic Benedictine communities of monks and nuns, told the programme: "I'm very sorry about any abuse that may have been committed at Fort Augustus."