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Abused boys told: you can't sue monks for torture hell

Hundreds of abuse victims' hopes of justice have been shattered after three judges kicked out their £10million compensation bid.

The former pupils wanted to sue the De La Salle Order of monks and the Scottish Executive.

They claimed they were tortured by teachers at St Ninian's List D School in Gartmore, Stirlingshire, and that government inspectors turned a blind eye.

But appeal judges Lord Osborne, Lord Marnoch and Lord Clarke said the buck stopped at volunteer managers and governors.

They said De La Salle could not be sued as it was a "voluntary association" and ruled the government were "too far removed" from the school to be blamed.

Just three men were convicted of sickening abuse, De La Salle monk Brother Benedict, real name Michael Murphy, 72, civilian teacher Charles McKenna, 84, and nightwatchman James McKinstry, 70.

Jim Fraser, 54, of Perthshire, who reported abuse at St Ninian's more than 10 years ago, said: "This ruling is nothing more than a whitewash."

The judges also ruled the £100,000 test case brought by Clackmannanshire dad Arthur McEwan, 53, was timebarred as it was not lodged within three years of him becoming an adult.

Victims' lawyer Cameron Fyfe said: "It may well be that the House of Lords will see this differently."

Full story at Sunday Mail.