The Church of Scotland has apologised to victims of historic child abuse that took place in a Church-run home. They were among the victims of Ian Samson, who is in prison for 22 sexual assaults, including eight at Lord and Lady Polwarth Children’s Home in Edinburgh. The Church has also agreed compensation with three of the victims.

In a statement on May 1, Viv Dickenson, Chief Executive Officer of the Church of Scotland’s social care council, CrossReach, said: “The abuses perpetrated by Ian Samson at Lord and Lady Polwarth Home in the 1970s were acute and have had long lasting eff ects for the survivors.

“We acknowledge the failures which occurred at that time which are matters which have also been examined by the criminal courts and by the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry.

“We do regret these failures and are truly sorry that children were not given the care and protection they deserved.

“Whilst the settlement which we reached can never undo what has been done, we hope that it finally brings a sense of justice to the individuals aff ected and provides some small redress for the trauma which they experienced while in the care of the Church of Scotland.”