Abuse charge monk released

Murphy physically abused his victims

A monk convicted of abusing vulnerable children at a school in Stirlingshire has been released from prison while he appeals the court's decision.

Brother Benedict, who is now known as Michael Murphy, was last week sentenced to two years in jail.

Murphy, who address was given in court as Hill Brow, near Liss, in Hampshire, had been found guilty of 10 offences of physical abuse during his time at the school in the sixties and seventies.

He appeared in private in Edinburgh on Tuesday, where the judge Lord Johnston agreed the 69-year-old should be allowed bail while he waits for the outcome of his appeal.

The former monk is challenging both his conviction and sentence.

Former pupils of St Ninian's, a List D school for young boys with behavioural problems, told the court that the monk had disciplined them using electric shocks.

A former woodwork teacher, Charles McKenna, who is now 83, and a groundsman, 70-year old James McKinstry, were also found guilty of assaulting young boys, and were each jailed for two years.