Kirchenakte1950-1983 · 33 years
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Scotland, boarding schools of the Marist Brothers in Largs and Dumfries 1950 to 1983 (Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry 2021)
In 2021 the state Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry found that Marist Brothers in their boarding schools St Columba's in Largs and St Joseph's in Dumfries sexually, physically and emotionally abused children, up to and including rape. Two serial abusers worked at St Columba's for over 20 years. Complaints were followed by inaction or the transfer of brothers; the safety of the children played no part. Two former brothers were convicted.
- Period
- 1950-1983 (33 years)
- Report published
- 1 January 2021
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Institutions
- Marist Brothers
St Columba's College, Largs
St Joseph's College, Dumfries - Category
- Violence, Sexual abuse, Cover-up
- Level of evidence
- A Primary source · what does this mean?
- Persons
- Peter Toner (former Marist Brother, convicted of serious offences against children at St Columba's)
Norman Bulloch (former Marist Brother, convicted of sexual abuse of children at St Joseph's)
What happened to the people
Who was affected? Victims and numbers
- At both schools brothers sexually abused children, up to and including oral sex and rape. At St Columba's two brothers with easy access to children were serial abusers who abused very young children with impunity; because they were there for over 20 years, the abuse was a permanent condition. At St Joseph's children were raped after targeted grooming or in brutal assaults.
Evidence: Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Schottland), Summary, S. x (PDF-S. 12)
„Children at both schools were sexually abused by Brothers. The abuse included masturbation, oral sexual activity, and rape.“
Case Study no. 7: The provision of residential care in boarding schools for children in Scotland by the Marist Brothers between 1950 and 1983 at St Columba's College, Largs, and St Joseph's College, Dumfries (Findings), Summary, S. x (PDF-S. 12). Original Evidence: Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Schottland), Summary, S. x (PDF-S. 12)
„Two particular Brothers with easy access to children were serial sex abusers. They sexually abused children of tender years with impunity.“
Case Study no. 7: The provision of residential care in boarding schools for children in Scotland by the Marist Brothers between 1950 and 1983 at St Columba's College, Largs, and St Joseph's College, Dumfries (Findings), Summary, S. x (PDF-S. 12). Original Evidence: Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Schottland), Summary, S. x (PDF-S. 12)
„Their presence at St Columba’s for a period of over 20 years meant that the sexual abuse of children was a chronic problem that destroyed childhoods and had lasting impact.“
Case Study no. 7: The provision of residential care in boarding schools for children in Scotland by the Marist Brothers between 1950 and 1983 at St Columba's College, Largs, and St Joseph's College, Dumfries (Findings), Summary, S. x (PDF-S. 12). Original Evidence: Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Schottland), Summary, S. x (PDF-S. 12)
„Children were raped after a grooming process or in the course of a brutal attack.“
Case Study no. 7: The provision of residential care in boarding schools for children in Scotland by the Marist Brothers between 1950 and 1983 at St Columba's College, Largs, and St Joseph's College, Dumfries (Findings), Summary, S. x (PDF-S. 12). Original
How were they charged and sentenced?
- The former Marist Brother Peter Toner was convicted of serious offences against children at St Columba's, including anal penetration, and of assault to permanent disfigurement by throwing board dusters. The former brother Norman Bulloch was convicted of sexual abuse of children at St Joseph's.
Evidence: Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Schottland), Summary, S. x (PDF-S. 12)
„A former Marist Brother, Peter Toner, was convicted of serious offences against children at St Columba’s, including convictions for anal penetration“
Case Study no. 7: The provision of residential care in boarding schools for children in Scotland by the Marist Brothers between 1950 and 1983 at St Columba's College, Largs, and St Joseph's College, Dumfries (Findings), Summary, S. x (PDF-S. 12). Original Evidence: Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Schottland), Summary, S. x (PDF-S. 12)
„Peter Toner was convicted of assault to injury and permanent disfigurement for doing so.“
Case Study no. 7: The provision of residential care in boarding schools for children in Scotland by the Marist Brothers between 1950 and 1983 at St Columba's College, Largs, and St Joseph's College, Dumfries (Findings), Summary, S. x (PDF-S. 12). Original Evidence: Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Schottland), Summary, S. x (PDF-S. 12)
„A former Marist Brother, Norman Bulloch, was convicted of sexually abusing children at St Joseph’s on charges that included sodomy.“
Case Study no. 7: The provision of residential care in boarding schools for children in Scotland by the Marist Brothers between 1950 and 1983 at St Columba's College, Largs, and St Joseph's College, Dumfries (Findings), Summary, S. x (PDF-S. 12). Original
What happened to those affected?
- Children were excessively strapped, often on the bare buttocks, slapped and punched; some brothers threw wooden board dusters at them. Younger children at St Joseph's were terrorised by a dormitory supervisor with alcohol problems. The fear of being abused dominated the lives of some children; for some the emotional scars lasted into adulthood.
Evidence: Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Schottland), Summary, S. x (PDF-S. 12)
„At St Columba’s, children were excessively belted and beaten, often on their bare bottoms.“
Case Study no. 7: The provision of residential care in boarding schools for children in Scotland by the Marist Brothers between 1950 and 1983 at St Columba's College, Largs, and St Joseph's College, Dumfries (Findings), Summary, S. x (PDF-S. 12). Original Evidence: Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Schottland), Summary, S. x (PDF-S. 12)
„the younger children of primary-school age were terrorised by a dorm master with alcohol problems“
Case Study no. 7: The provision of residential care in boarding schools for children in Scotland by the Marist Brothers between 1950 and 1983 at St Columba's College, Largs, and St Joseph's College, Dumfries (Findings), Summary, S. x (PDF-S. 12). Original Evidence: Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Schottland), Summary, S. xi (PDF-S. 13)
„Fear of being targeted for sexual abuse and the dread associated with that uncertainty dominated some children’s lives.“
Case Study no. 7: The provision of residential care in boarding schools for children in Scotland by the Marist Brothers between 1950 and 1983 at St Columba's College, Largs, and St Joseph's College, Dumfries (Findings), Summary, S. xi (PDF-S. 13). Original
Witness accounts and records
“I was still below the age of 10...in the mindset of a child, what would you compare it to? There was nothing at that point to suggest that anything was wrong because you’re in a place governed by people in trust.”
Background
Why? Justification and motives (according to the sources)
- According to the inquiry, the fear of harsh punishment, the authority of the Catholic Church and a culture of obedience strengthened the abusers and left victims powerless, because they believed they would not be believed.
Evidence: Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Schottland), Summary, S. xi (PDF-S. 13)
„The fear of severe punishment, the authority of the Catholic Church, and a culture of obedience served to empower abusers and, conversely, rendered many victims powerless in the belief that their complaints of abuse would not be believed.“
Case Study no. 7: The provision of residential care in boarding schools for children in Scotland by the Marist Brothers between 1950 and 1983 at St Columba's College, Largs, and St Joseph's College, Dumfries (Findings), Summary, S. xi (PDF-S. 13). Original
Who received the assets, who profited?
- The fact that more day pupils came to St Joseph's in the 1970s caused the order financial difficulties because income from boarding fees fell. A visitation by the order criticised the community's alcohol consumption: over 400 pounds on draught beer in six months, 1,000 pounds a year on cigars and cigarettes, 2,000 pounds on other drinks. A former pupil was indignant that his parents had paid for "the privilege" of his being abused.
Evidence: Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Schottland), S. 16 (PDF-S. 29)
„an arrangement that caused financial difficulties for the Order because of the consequent reduction in income from boarding fees“
Case Study no. 7: The provision of residential care in boarding schools for children in Scotland by the Marist Brothers between 1950 and 1983 at St Columba's College, Largs, and St Joseph's College, Dumfries (Findings), S. 16 (PDF-S. 29). Original Evidence: Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Schottland), S. 25 (PDF-S. 38)
„For 6 months the amount spent on draught beer alone is more than £400.“
Case Study no. 7: The provision of residential care in boarding schools for children in Scotland by the Marist Brothers between 1950 and 1983 at St Columba's College, Largs, and St Joseph's College, Dumfries (Findings), S. 25 (PDF-S. 38). Original Evidence: Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Schottland), S. 25 (PDF-S. 38)
„Cigars and cigarettes £1000 p.a. General drink not included in the above £2000 p.a.“
Case Study no. 7: The provision of residential care in boarding schools for children in Scotland by the Marist Brothers between 1950 and 1983 at St Columba's College, Largs, and St Joseph's College, Dumfries (Findings), S. 25 (PDF-S. 38). Original Evidence: Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Schottland), S. 92 (PDF-S. 105)
„his parents had been paying money for “the privilege of [him] being abused.”“
Case Study no. 7: The provision of residential care in boarding schools for children in Scotland by the Marist Brothers between 1950 and 1983 at St Columba's College, Largs, and St Joseph's College, Dumfries (Findings), S. 92 (PDF-S. 105). Original
Response of the Church
- Complaints were followed by inaction or the transfer of brothers; the safety of the children played no part. The Marists' own rules recognised the dangers, but the dormitories gave abusers access to the children.
Evidence: Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Schottland), Summary, S. xi (PDF-S. 13)
„When complaints of abuse were made the response was inaction or, in some cases, movement of Brothers. The safety of children did not feature as a consideration.“
Case Study no. 7: The provision of residential care in boarding schools for children in Scotland by the Marist Brothers between 1950 and 1983 at St Columba's College, Largs, and St Joseph's College, Dumfries (Findings), Summary, S. xi (PDF-S. 13). Original Evidence: Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Schottland), Summary, S. x (PDF-S. 12)
„yet the dormitory systems at both schools facilitated access to children for the purpose of sexual abuse“
Case Study no. 7: The provision of residential care in boarding schools for children in Scotland by the Marist Brothers between 1950 and 1983 at St Columba's College, Largs, and St Joseph's College, Dumfries (Findings), Summary, S. x (PDF-S. 12). Original - The Marist Brothers acknowledged that many former pupils had given convincing accounts of abuse, and apologised.
Evidence: Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Schottland), Summary, S. xi (PDF-S. 13)
„The Marist Brothers provided a sincere apology for the abuse suffered.“
Case Study no. 7: The provision of residential care in boarding schools for children in Scotland by the Marist Brothers between 1950 and 1983 at St Columba's College, Largs, and St Joseph's College, Dumfries (Findings), Summary, S. xi (PDF-S. 13). Original
Original documents to read
- Government report
Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Schottland): Case Study no. 7: The provision of residential care in boarding schools for children in Scotland by the Marist Brothers between 1950 and 1983 at St Columba's College, Largs, and St Joseph's College, Dumfries (Findings), 1 January 2021. Original (retrieved 15 Oct 2026)
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Last changed on 22 October 2026. Is something missing or wrong? Suggest an addition or correction.