Victims of a child abuse scandal at a council run residential home will receive £20,000 compensation for their ordeals.
20 former residents were identified as victims in a report carried out by the council. It was alleged that they were assaulted whilst they stayed at Merkland Children’s Home in Moffat, Dumfriesshire. Dumfries and Galloway Council, who ran the home have agreed to pay the victims compensation.
In April 1996 Peter Harley, the officer in charge of the home from 1877 to 1982, was jailed for 15 years for abuse against boys who lived in the home.
In addition to paying the victims compensation, the council has also agreed to publicly apologise to the victims for the abuse they suffered and has also written to each individual involved.