PENSIONER FACING HISTORIC ABUSE CHARGES AT KERELAW SCHOOL
The trial of pensioner Michael Neil, a former PE teacher at the former Kerelaw School in Stevenston, has been postponed.Neil, aged 71, faced 25 charges related to alleged historic abuse at the school.
The case was previously underway at Paisley Sheriff Court, where Neil was accused of multiple assaults spanning nearly 20 years, from 1985 to 2004.
According to the Crown's indictment, Neil allegedly attacked various victims on different occasions, often acting alone or with others.
Among the allegations, prosecutors claim Neil repeatedly punched one male complainant — who is now deceased — on the head and body, causing him to fall to the ground; he is also accused of locking him in a gymnasium and repeatedly striking him with sports balls, a fire extinguisher, and stones, and threatening to assault him and forcing him to undress and jump into a river.
Neil is also alleged to have struck other victims with sports equipment, pushed them to the ground, and caused head injuries, some resulting in loss of consciousness.
The trial was halted with future dates pending, with the sheriff unable to continue, and proceedings to be resumed at a later date.
