SAMUEL MCBREARTY SHOCKS ABERDEEN AND BRIDGE OF WEIR WITH CHILD SEX ABUSE SCANDAL

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the communities of Aberdeen and Bridge of Weir, Samuel McBrearty, a man now aged 70, has been convicted of heinous crimes committed decades ago. The offences took place during the 1960s at the Quarriers children’s home located in Renfrewshire, where McBrearty was employed as a childcare assistant and house father.

McBrearty was sentenced to a lengthy term of 12 years in prison after being found guilty of eight separate charges involving the rape and sexual assault of three young girls. These assaults occurred between 1961 and 1968, when the victims were just children aged between eight and eleven. The High Court in Glasgow, presided over by Lord Reed, delivered the verdict and the subsequent sentence, condemning McBrearty’s actions as “appalling offences against vulnerable children in his care.”

During the sentencing, Lord Reed emphasized the gravity of the crimes, stating, “No matter how long ago the offences were committed, they must be treated as the most serious of crimes. Such acts can inflict long-term psychological damage and devastate lives.” The court heard that McBrearty’s misconduct went undetected for nearly four decades, during which he rose to become a respected senior social worker in Aberdeen, a position he held until his retirement in 1995.

The trial, which lasted three weeks and concluded earlier this month, revealed disturbing details of McBrearty’s predatory behavior. Witnesses testified that he would enter the girls’ bedrooms while dressed in his pyjamas, creeping in under the cover of night to abuse them. One of the victims, now in her late 40s, bravely gave evidence from behind a screen, describing her ordeal as “the nightmare I have been carrying for 40 years.”

In addition to the charges of rape, two other victims, who shared a room with the three girls, had their allegations of indecency withdrawn prior to the trial. The victims, all now mothers, recounted that the abuse began when they were just children—eight, ten, and eleven years old—and took place within the confines of the Quarriers Village, a large complex comprising 30 detached villas, complete with a school, hospital, church, and recreational facilities such as a swimming pool and boating pond. The village also hosted various youth organizations, including cubs, guides, and scouts.

McBrearty’s defense team claimed that he was “astounded” by the allegations and suggested that the women, two of whom are now suing the charity that operated the home, had conspired against him. Despite his claims of innocence, the evidence presented during the trial painted a disturbing picture of abuse carried out over several years.

The case came to light three years ago when one of the victims, now aged 51, approached her lawyer about an unrelated matter and disclosed her past experiences. Following this revelation, police initiated an investigation, reaching out to all the girls who had shared the same room. After they provided separate statements, McBrearty was called in for questioning. When asked why he believed the victims had come forward after so many years, he responded, “I cannot explain it. I totally deny it ever happened.”

It is important to note that the Quarriers Children’s Home, where these crimes occurred, no longer exists. The institution was closed in 1968 as part of a national shift in child care policy, moving away from large residential homes towards foster care arrangements. The legacy of the home remains marred by this dark chapter, and the victims’ courage in coming forward has brought justice after decades of silence.