Men Appear in Court Accused of Abuse at Former Catholic School

STV
July 9, 2014

http://news.stv.tv/tayside/282120-paul-kelly-and-john-farrell-at-dundee-sheriff-court-on-abuse-charges/

St Ninian's: School closed in the 1980s.

Two men appeared in court on Wednesday accused of carrying out years of sexual abuse on young boys at a school run by a controversial Catholic group.

Paul Kelly and John Farrell appeared at Dundee Sheriff Court over allegations of brutal sex attacks and beatings at the former St Ninian's School in Falkland, Fife, between 1978 and 1983.

The pair face a total of 57 charges between them, including multiple accusations of having "unnatural carnal connections" with young boys at the school, sexual assaults, indecent assaults and using lewd, indecent and libidinous practices and behaviour towards children.

Kelly faces seven charges of using lewd, indecent and libidinous practices and behaviour as well as eight indecent assaults and two sexual assaults.

He if further alleged to have committed nine assaults on young boys, including dragging one boy to a river and forcing his head underwater.

Kelly is also accused of three charges of having an "unnatural carnal connection" with boys at the school by repeatedly having sex with them.

One charge even alleges that he forced a boy to watch while he "sexually assaulted and sodomised other pupils". The charge further accuses Kelly of forcing other pupils to have sex with the boy.

Farrell faces six charges of assault, nine of indecent assault and two of sexual assault.He is further accused of six acts of using lewd, indecent and libidinous practices and behaviour and two of having an unnatural carnal connection with boys at the school.

One of the charges alleges that he knocked a 13-year-old boy unconscious before sexually abusing him.

Kelly, 61, of Plymouth, and Farrell, 71, of Coatbridge, made no plea or declaration during the brief private hearing on petition on Wednesday.

The case was continued for further examination and both men were released on bail by Sheriff Elizabeth Munro.

Last week four other men appeared in court over allegations of physical and sexual abuse at the school. Edward Egan, 76, Michael Murphy, 74, Timothy Foxall, 63, and William Don, 60, face a series of charges alleging abuse at the school.

They also made no plea or declaration when they appeared on petition at Dundee Sheriff Court and were released on bail meantime.