Men allege abuse by monks

Police have investigated the order

More than 30 men have alleged that they were ill-treated while attending a Strlingshire school run by a Catholic teaching order, according to a solicitor.

Cameron Fyfe said that the 31 men, aged in their 40s and 50s, have contacted him to allege that they suffered physical or sexual abuse at St Ninian's List D School in Gartmore.

It is expected that the men will pursue compensation claims against the De La Salle Brothers.

Cameron Fyfe has been contacted by alleged victims

The order, which has been subject to a police investigation, has denied the allegations.

It is alleged they happened between 1960 and 1982 at the residential school for boys aged seven to 11.

They had been sent there by children's panels across Scotland.

Mr Fyfe said on Tuesday that he was expecting more people to approach him for advice on seeking compensation.

Papers for 11 cases have been lodged at the Court of Session in Edinburgh with the men claiming compensation of up to £20,000 each.

Test cases

Mr Fyfe, who said the allegations were all of a similar nature, has now written to the Legal Aid Board, asking for it to treat three of the claims as test cases.

"I would hope that they will proceed quickly with the applications for legal aid, given the number of claims which are now emerging.

Nobody has been charged - the allegations are vigorously denied

John McCormick, lawyer for the order

"I would hope that if the test cases are successful the De La Salle order will reach a settlement with the others," said the lawyer.

The school was closed in 1982 as part of a review of List D schools by the UK Government.

The order's lawyer, John McCormick, said: "The De La Salle order has co-operated fully with the police investigation.

"Nobody has been charged. The allegations are vigorously denied.

"All the evidence available to me indicates that St Ninian's was run in an exemplary manner.

"The Certificate of Approval was withdrawn by the then Secretary of State (for Scotland) because of over-capacity of List D places in 1982 and for no other reason.

"Unlike those making the allegations and their advisers, I will reserve any further comment until after the result of the civil action is known."