RECENT evidence lodged with the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry, (SCAI), in Edinburgh, has detailed allegations of widespread, routine abuse at the former Dunclutha Childrens Home in Kirn.
Among the claims, contained in sworn witness statements, is the alarming submission that during the mid 1960s, early 1970s, American naval personnel stationed at the Holy Loch base would regularly visit the home at weekends selecting children to take back home with them, sometimes to spend the night.
This alleged unsupervised access to boys and girls, some as young as 10 or 11 years of age, was encouraged by staff members, who would routinely allow the American servicemen to take the children unaccompanied.
One witness explained that on most weekends they would be visited by US navy personnel. In their statement they said: On a Sunday we were all lined up, dressed in our Sunday best and Americans would come from the naval base If they liked you they picked you to go home with them. Another witness described the whole affair as like being at a market.
In at least one witness statement by a man using the pseudonym Peter one of these trips resulted in sexual abuse after he was groomed. In his statement to the Inquiry he explained that initial trust between the US serviceman had been built up through bowling trips at the base, gifts and goodie bags.
He said: On a Saturday and on holidays, they would come with a naval minibus. It had the black writing on the side, US Naval Base, Holy Loch. They would pick up the children. I dont recall any staff members accompanying us. They just had carte blanche to pick us up and do what they wanted. It was the norm when I was there. Sometimes you didnt go, sometimes you went.
Over time Peter claimed that he encountered touching by Navy personnel and on one occasion he was the victim of a sexual assault during an overnight stay. Peter described the man as a US naval officer, identifiable by uniform, who allegedly lived off-base and abused him during Christmas 1967 or 1968.
The alleged incident was witnessed by another man who was present in the room at the time during the assault, who watched on.
Peter explained that no medical attention followed, despite bleeding and trauma symptoms and that staff at Dunclutha were more or less uninterested.
According to the witness statements, which are available to read on the SCAIs official website, the alleged physical abuse at Dunclutha was wide ranging, from beatings and being kicked by members of staff for not finishing food, to sexual abuse.
There was no privacy during shower time for either boys or girls who were forced to shower without curtains or cubicles, as male and female staff sat and watched them.
A male member of staff at Dunclutha, referred to only as FFX, during witness statements, was described as violent and feared by children at the home
One former resident ,under the pseudonym Jessica, told the Inquiry that kids during her time there were routinely physically abused by him and another man referred to in statements as FGG.
Jessica explained: It was normal to just get slapped over the head by staff as you were walking along. I got force fed by FFX, who I think had a real dislike for me. I think he saw me as defiant. Hed forced cod liver oil down my throat and shut my mouth so I had to swallow it.
Jessica added: FFX and Mr FGG beat me up when I was brought back after running away. I was punched in the stomach a few times, punched on the side of the head, and they liked to grab my hair. You could smell the fear FFX and Mr FGG came near you to hit you. Whenever I felt the fear of them coming near, I learned to run. All the kids did the same. If a kid was being battered, the rest would just scatter and run so they wouldnt be next.
A number of statements submitted describe FFX as a violent man who would order children to remove clothing while he administered canings and severe beatings with a belt which was tapered at one end.
One witness described attempting to disclose abuse and being violently punished, they stated: He brought out the cane and whacked me. I would have to take my shorts down and he beat the hell out of me. I still have scars on my legs from where he used the cane. He would then use the belt
The witness further stated that speaking out resulted in punishment: When I got home after school I would get a slap for speaking out at sschool.
Several witnesses told the Inquiry that when they attempted to report abuse, they felt their concerns were not acted upon. On one occasion a female resident reported her abuse to two teachers at Dunoon Grammar School, who filed an immediate report.
Staff at Dunclutha were notified and the girl was threatened and forced to withdraw her allegations where she was made to apologise to the two teachers in person, by stating she had made the allegations up. She then received further physical abuse at Dunclutha for speaking out.
A common thread running through all witness statements is the level of sustained physical and sexual abuse during their time in care. They also allege that when the would disclose this abuse to other staff members or even social workers they were completely ignored and the alleged abuse continued.
The SCAI is currently in Phase 10 of its proceedings, investigating the care of children in residential settings across Scotland during the latter half of the 20th century.
The Inquiry is ongoing and findings have not yet been made in relation to individual perpetrators.
