PRESSURE is growing on the Scottish Government to launch a full public inquiry into historical institutional abuse across Scotland.

Victims have joined forces with politicians to demand action into allegations of attacks on children in the 1960s, 70s and 80s.

They want a full and transparent probe identical to the HIA – Historical Institutional Abuse inquiry – which is currently taking place in Northern Ireland.

Recent revelations in the Record about St Ninian’s school, in ­Falkland, Fife, have reinvigorated the campaign to bring those responsible to justice and discover how much the state knew.

Eight former pupils, all now in their 50s and 60s, have come forward to describe a litany of rapes, sex assaults and mindless brutality at the Christian Brothers institution.

And since our investigation, police revealed they have arrested and charged six men who were involved in the school in the 70s and 80s.

Each victim has also demanded a full national inquiry into abuse in residential schools across the country.

George Clark, a pupil at the school in the 60s, added: “It’s about every school and institution in Scotland that allowed this abuse to happen. It’s the least these boys deserve.”

David Sharp, 55, who was ­trafficked to Ireland to be abused aged 10, said: “An HIA like Northern Ireland’s would answer the questions once and for all and we would discover exactly who in authority knew what and when.

“This is not a church issue, it’s much deeper than that. This is about councils, social workers, the judiciary and government.

“Every victim or survivor in Scotland deserves answers.”

In 2004, First Minister Jack McConnell publicly apologised to those abused at St Ninian’s.

Labour MSP Graeme Pearson said yesterday that it “should have been the first stage of a process to uncover what happened”.

He added: “The horrors experienced by young children whose only needs were security, love and support demand a positive resolution and final accountability.

“That can only be achieved by means of a public inquiry.”

Community Safety and Legal Affairs Minister Roseanna Cunningham refused to comment on the possibility of an inquiry.

Instead, she said that since 2007, the Scottish Government had spent £6.2million “to raise awareness, provide training and fund specialist support” for victims.

A Scottish Government spokesman said several inquiries and reviews had been held into child abuse in care.

He added: “It is unclear what further inquiries and reviews would add to those already undertaken.”