‘The impact on the children who were abused at Kerelaw was devastating’

LUCY ADAMS

Former pupils talked of their arms being twisted behind their backs, pain being inflicted by staff and emotional abuse including taunts about their background.

Here was a residential school and secure unit where children were sent to protect themselves and others, a place they should have been safe. Instead the independent inquiry into Kerelaw paints a damning and detailed picture of "common assaults", "emotional abuse", neglect and poor practice.

Following on from Glasgow City Council's own three-year inquiry into what went wrong at the Stevenston, Ayrshire unit and coverage of the various court cases and employment tribunals, there is a danger of the findings seeming too familiar.

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Phrases such as poor leadership and training may sound clinical but should not detract from the all too human horror meted out on the children there.

The independent report by Eddie Frizzell concludes most importantly that abuse did take place and that steps must be taken to ensure such mistakes are not repeated.

The result of poor leadership and years of failings is "broken people" many of whom will require support for years to come.

"We saw what can happen when staff lack direction, when leadership is inadequate, when appropriate values are not upheld, and when poor attitudes are not challenged," wrote Mr Frizzell. "We saw the impact of relative neglect of an institution by senior managers 30 miles away preoccupied with reorganisation, budgets, high-level policies and internal disputes.

"The impact on the children who were abused at Kerelaw was devastating."