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Up to 40 staff involved in abuse 'Up to 40 staff' abused children
(about 1 hour later)
As many as 40 care workers abused children at an Ayrshire school for vulnerable youngsters. As many as 40 care workers abused children at an Ayrshire school for vulnerable youngsters, a report claims.
The claim is in a report by Glasgow City Council into the workings of Kerelaw Residential Unit in Stevenson. Glasgow City Council spent three years investigating the workings of Kerelaw Residential Unit in Stevenson.
The local authority-run establishment, which closed last year, looked after youngsters with significant emotional, social and behavioural problems.The local authority-run establishment, which closed last year, looked after youngsters with significant emotional, social and behavioural problems.
It was closed after allegations of abuse came to light in 2004 and a follow-up police investigation. It was shut after allegations of abuse came to light in 2004 and a follow-up police investigation.
The council has spent the last three years investigating allegations of abuse.The council has spent the last three years investigating allegations of abuse.
Kerelaw was a secure unit which provided accommodation for up to 24 children, from throughout Scotland, with an open school for 50 others.Kerelaw was a secure unit which provided accommodation for up to 24 children, from throughout Scotland, with an open school for 50 others.
The report's findings, which will be made public later on Thursday, said a significant core of staff at the unit had been involved in either sexual or physical abuse of youngsters. David Comley, the council's director of social work, said some of the staff involved could still be working with children.
He said: "The conclusion is that we have failed to listen to complaints from children and failed to take them seriously enough.
KERELAW - TIMELINE April 2004 - Care Commission produces a critical reportApril 2004 - Glasgow City Council alerted to abuse claimsJune 2004 - Police probe leads to staff suspensions and transfersDecember 2004 - Kerelaw Open School is closedMarch 2006 - Kerelaw Secure Unit is closedJune 2007 - Glasgow City Council's Kerelaw investigation report publishedKERELAW - TIMELINE April 2004 - Care Commission produces a critical reportApril 2004 - Glasgow City Council alerted to abuse claimsJune 2004 - Police probe leads to staff suspensions and transfersDecember 2004 - Kerelaw Open School is closedMarch 2006 - Kerelaw Secure Unit is closedJune 2007 - Glasgow City Council's Kerelaw investigation report published
"None of the staff we have dismissed will be working in childcare. It is possible that (some of the others) are still working with children."
The report's findings, which will be made public later on Thursday, said a significant core of staff at the unit had been involved in either sexual or physical abuse of youngsters.
It also said that a far larger number of staff had knowledge of the abuse and were unwilling to address the issue.It also said that a far larger number of staff had knowledge of the abuse and were unwilling to address the issue.
The report does not indicate how many children were abused over the years.The report does not indicate how many children were abused over the years.
In a statement, the council said that 14 members of staff were sacked and others disciplined.In a statement, the council said that 14 members of staff were sacked and others disciplined.
It added that the names of former employees have been referred to the Scottish Executive under the terms of the Protection of Children (Scotland) Act 2003.It added that the names of former employees have been referred to the Scottish Executive under the terms of the Protection of Children (Scotland) Act 2003.
'External management''External management'
A council spokesman said: "Following an exhaustive investigation, it is clear there was a long standing failure within Kerelaw itself to provide appropriate care and education to its young people.A council spokesman said: "Following an exhaustive investigation, it is clear there was a long standing failure within Kerelaw itself to provide appropriate care and education to its young people.
"Within a culture of fear and collusion, it is evident that allegations from young people went unheard."Within a culture of fear and collusion, it is evident that allegations from young people went unheard.
"Deficiencies in the external management system that oversaw Kerelaw contributed to this failing."Deficiencies in the external management system that oversaw Kerelaw contributed to this failing.
"A number of independent individuals and organisations with access to Kerelaw were also in a position to identify abuse but they too failed to do so.""A number of independent individuals and organisations with access to Kerelaw were also in a position to identify abuse but they too failed to do so."
He added that as a direct consequence of the investigation, the council implemented "a wide ranging response to safeguard young people within our care system in future".He added that as a direct consequence of the investigation, the council implemented "a wide ranging response to safeguard young people within our care system in future".
Appalling abuse
The spokesman said: "Vital lessons around external management and monitoring have been learned and this has led to extensive measures being put in place to protect all the young people in our care.The spokesman said: "Vital lessons around external management and monitoring have been learned and this has led to extensive measures being put in place to protect all the young people in our care.
"We are now confident the kind of appalling abuse inflicted by those in positions of trust at Kerelaw should be prevented from happening again.""We are now confident the kind of appalling abuse inflicted by those in positions of trust at Kerelaw should be prevented from happening again."
Scotland's Children's Commissioner, Kathleen Marshall, said that more needed to be done to encourage whistle-blowing.
She said: "The shocking thing about this is that we have committed to listening to young people but there remains such a culture of disbelief and this indicates that we are just not listening properly."
Last year, two men were found guilty of physically and sexually abusing children in their care at Kerelaw. Art teacher Matthew George, 56, was jailed for 10 years at the High Court in Edinburgh for a "horrifying catalogue" of 18 offences.
Residential care worker John Muldoon, 53, was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in jail for four offences.
Did you attend the Kerelaw open school or residential unit? Did you work at the unit? Tell us your stories by emailing newsonlinescotland@bbc.co.uk.Did you attend the Kerelaw open school or residential unit? Did you work at the unit? Tell us your stories by emailing newsonlinescotland@bbc.co.uk.