Former pupil awarded six-figure damages over boarding school abuse claims

A man who claims he was abused at a private boarding school has reached an out-of-court settlement for a six-figure sum in damages.

Angus Bell claimed he suffered in a “madhouse of violence and psychological abuse” at Loretto School in Musselburgh, East Lothian in the 1990s.

The 44-year-old, who lives in Canada, claimed he had been abused by older pupils.

A civil trial, thought to be the first in Scotland involving pupil-on-pupil abuse, had been due to take place at the Court of Session in Edinburgh in early June.

Mr Bell claimed teachers knew about it and either failed to intervene or took steps to cover it up.

He said students were “set on fire, beaten with hockey sticks and cricket bats daily, whipped with belts, waterboarded in toilets and thrown down stairs”.

He described each day as a “cross between The Purge and The Running Man” and said his time there was “eight years in hell”.

On Tuesday, Digby Brown Solicitors, representing Mr Bell, said an out of court settlement for a six-figure sum had been reached.

Loretto School said that, in the school now, child protection, wellbeing and the happiness of all pupils is its “top priority”.

Mr Bell said the “harrowing peer-on-peer assaults” he suffered over eight years at Loretto was “life-changing”.

“The school knew abuse was happening and all too often chose to look the other way and at no point has Loretto contacted me to apologise – not even after I gave evidence at the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry,” he said.

“But finally outsiders know what happened within those walls. Finally the school has been held to account.”

He added: “I want to give special thanks to those who had the courage to support me. Particular praise must go to English teacher David Stock, whose career was terminated for confronting the Loretto authorities about the widespread culture of physical, sexual and psychological abuse in 1991.”

Mr Bell said he would continue to support fellow survivors and ensure future generations of children are protected.

Richard Pitts, partner at Digby Brown who led the legal action against Loretto School, described the treatment depicted at Loretto as “horrific”.

“In my years as an abuse solicitor it’s among some of the worst accounts of violence and depravity I’ve ever heard of,” he said.

“Angus has been strong, calm and resilient throughout his entire journey and I commend him for what he has been able to do because he has not just secured justice for himself – in all likelihood he has opened the doors to help others get the outcome they deserve too.”

Pete Richardson, head of Loretto School, confirmed the matter had been resolved and said the wellbeing of the school’s pupils is the “top priority”.

“Whilst we do not intend to comment on the detail of matters raised by Mr Bell, what has been averred in the Court action is not congruent with our understanding of the experience of others at Loretto at that time,” he said.

He added that the question of behaviours in Loretto over the years has been considered in detail by the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry.

“We continue to support the work of SCAI and, where wrongdoing has been recognised in the past, we have made an unreserved apology – we would encourage anyone with an interest in this matter to look at the excellent work done by SCAI,” he said.

“In the Loretto of today, child protection, wellbeing and the happiness of all pupils is our top priority.”