DAVID NEILL FROM DARVEL SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ABUSE ON WAVERLEY IN GLASGOW

In April 1998, the former captain of the historic Waverley paddle steamer, David Neill, was sentenced to three years in prison after being found guilty of abusing five teenage boys. The incidents occurred between 1981 and 1987, primarily taking place in the captain's cabin while the vessel was either cruising along the Clyde or berthed at Anderston Quay in Glasgow.

David Neill, aged 53 and a resident of Darvel in Ayrshire, held the position of master and was regarded as a paternal figure to many who admired the Waverley, the world's last sea-going paddle steamer. However, beneath this respected exterior, Neill exhibited disturbing paedophile tendencies, exploiting his authority over young boys for sexual gratification over a period of six years. His actions turned the historic vessel into a dangerous environment for vulnerable youths, with some victims now adults, recounting their traumatic experiences during the trial.

During the sentencing hearing at Glasgow Sheriff Court, Sheriff Daniel Convery addressed Neill directly, stating, "As master of the Waverley, you commanded respect amongst the many adolescent boys for whom the ship was a great attraction. With some of these boys, you exploited your considerable authority by sexually interfering with them. You did so in a manner and on a scale which was systematic and cynical." The sheriff emphasized that the abuse of trust and authority was a serious offense that warranted a custodial sentence, despite the personal and professional ruin it would bring to Neill. "The abuse of your authority and trust makes a prison sentence inevitable, notwithstanding the fact that you face the loss of your personal reputation and the ruin of your distinguished career," he added.

Testimonies from the victims, now young men with families of their own, detailed how Neill manipulated and assaulted them. One victim, who had sought a summer job, was groped by Neill, who also made indecent suggestions and provided him with complimentary tickets marked "child," inviting him to return. Another young man was taken to the ship's bridge and offered a chance to work aboard the Waverley, which his father permitted, leading to three years of abuse. The court also heard that Neill took one youth to his home, showed him old paddle steamer films, and allowed him to sleep in a bunk bed above his daughter, while Neill groped him as his daughter slept below.

Despite the abuse, the victims remained captivated by the Waverley's charm and the thrill of being aboard the vessel, which drew them back repeatedly. Neill, who is separated from his wife and father to two daughters and a son, served as master of the Waverley from 1975 until his arrest in June of the previous year. His conviction marked him as the second individual associated with the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society to be convicted of sex abuse, following the case of Reverend Clem Robb, a former chaplain, who was jailed for seven years in 1994 for abusing seven boys over three years in Church of Scotland manses. Robb had also introduced boys to the Waverley, and at least two victims were abused by both men.

During the trial, Neill's defense lawyer, Mr. Norman Ritchie, pleaded with Sheriff Convery to consider a community service order instead of imprisonment. Meanwhile, Waverley Excursions' general manager, Mr. David Duncanson, expressed confidence that the company would continue to enjoy public support for the vessel, despite the troubling revelations and the criminal conviction of its former captain.