Two men guilty of abuse of 28 children at Kerelaw residential school

Matthew George (left) and John Muldoon (right) were convicted after a trial at the High Court in Glasgow

Two men have been found guilty of a catalogue of physical and sexual abuse against vulnerable children over three decades at a former residential school.

Matthew George and John Muldoon carried out their crimes while working at Kerelaw School in North Ayrshire.

Former art teacher George, 73, was convicted of 39 offences while Muldoon, 69, who worked in the school's secure unit, was found guilty of 16.

The High Court in Glasgow heard the pair targeted 28 victims.

The crimes were committed at the council-run school in Stevenston between 1975 and 2000. They will be sentenced next month.

It is the second time the pair have been convicted of offences at school

The new convictions followed a fresh investigation into how youngsters were treated at the school.

Jurors heard that physical and sexual attacks were "rife" with children too scared to report their ordeals at the time.

'Leader of the boys'

During the trial victims spoke in person and through recorded evidence of being abused by George at the school and at his home in the seaside town of Largs.

As well as horrific sexual abuse, the court heard of physical violence which included children being put down holes while also being punched and hit.

George - who also taught physical education - was described by one victim as the "leader of the boys" and someone who liked to "show off" his karate moves.

Jurors heard evidence against George that:

• Members of staff would line up boys in the gym hall and hit them with golf balls

• One boy was booted on the ankles as he recovered from breaking them weeks earlier

• Another was kept in the cells of the secure unit area of the school for more than a fortnight having been assualted

• One boy was battered with a mop handle and forced to eat soap.

Prosecutor Paul Kearney KC said: "Evidence shows us that violence was rife and tolerated by staff."

George replied: "Violence was not rife - absolutely not the case."

George also denied one of his "methods" was to lure victims to his home even though some who could vividly recall what it looked like.

The former teacher, who worked at Kerelaw for 29 years, was mainly convicted of indecent and physical assaults. His offences involved 21 boys and girls.

Muldoon, of Irvine, committed crimes against nine children including the rape of two girls.

He also attacked one boy with a mallet and put a lit cigarette on one girl's arm.

Two of the victims were abused by both men.

A number of the victims in the case have since died before they could see justice being served.

'I was always scared'

A victim of abuse at Kerelaw school has told how his ordeal left him "always scared".

Thomas was 12 when he arrived at the council-run residential school in Stevenson, North Ayrshire, in June 1982.

He told BBC Scotland how he became a pupil after he began sniffing glue and engaging in minor criminality, such as shoplifting.

His family life had been blighted by alcoholism and, as he was small for his age, he became an immediate target for bullies.

Thomas' first interaction with Matt George came during a staff versus pupils football match.

Now 53, he recalled how he put the ball through the teacher's legs, leading to George being mocked by other teachers and pupils.

Thomas said: "He took it as a sign of disrespect and from then on, he launched a campaign of violence and hatred towards me."

Thomas' name has been changed to protect his identity. Read his story here

The judge Lady Drummond told the pair: "You have been convicted of charges involving sexual and physical abuse on children in your care over decades.

"You will be sent to prison for a significant period of time."

George and Muldoon were previously jailed in 2006 for abuse at Kerelaw for 10 years and two-and-a-half years respectively.

But they both returned to the dock in 2017 amid new allegations.

This led to a two-month trial at the High Court in Glasgow, which saw jurors convict them again on Friday.

The pair had been on bail, but were remanded in custody ahead of sentencing next month in Livingston.

The school - run by Strathclyde Regional Council and then Glasgow City Council - closed in 2006.

After the verdicts, Mr Kearney said eight victims had written statements about their ordeals for judge Lady Drummond to read.

Kerelaw residential school in Stevenston, North Ayrshire, closed in 2006

After the verdict Det Insp Ross Black thanked everyone who came forward.

He said: "Their engagement, bravery and commitment helped secure the verdict today.

"We hope that people can now be confident in coming forward to police knowing that no matter the passage of time, justice like today's verdict has underpinned what can be achieved."

Det Insp Black said the force was committed to bringing those responsible for such times to justice.

He added: "We are, and will continue, to investigate all aspects of child abuse in these former residential care establishments and I would urge anyone who may have experienced abuse at the school but not yet come forward to police to do so."