Police confirm major child abuse investigation
A major child-abuse inquiry is being carried out by police in the Highlands. Two men have already appeared in court in connection with abuse allegations involving two girls.
The investigation by Northern Constabulary, described as one of the largest of its kind in years, is also looking at other abuse complaints.
The allegations, which centre on the Muir of Ord area of Ross-shire, date back to the 1990s.
Highland Council’s social work department have been notified and are dealing with the families affected.
It is anticipated the inquiry will continue for another 13 weeks.
It was first referred to in a brief three-sentence mention in Chief Constable Ian Latimer’s crime-situation report to the Northern Joint Police Board.
He said officers were carrying out the abuse investigation involving “multiple suspects and victims”.
The report said: “A large-scale child abuse inquiry is currently being carried out in the Muir of Ord area involving multiple victims and multiple suspects.
“This is likely to continue for some 13 weeks yet and is destined to be one of the largest inquiries of its type in recent years.”
William Burns, 67, from Muir of Ord, and Donald Higgins Burns, 42, from Invergordon, both appeared at Dingwall Sheriff Court on March 26 charged with serious sex offences.
William Burns was charged with two cases of rape and one of attempted rape.
Donald Burns appeared charged with lewd and libidinous conduct towards a girl aged between 12 and 16 years and of having sexual intercourse with a girl aged 13 to 16.
A police source said further allegations were still being investigated.
“It is a large inquiry, there is no argument about that. We can’t go into numbers but there will be more.
“We have to take into account the victims of the case and be as sensitive as possible over the reporting of the case. They are serious allegations and there will be implications for the victims, long-term.”
Margaret Paterson, Highland councillor for Dingwall and Seaforth, said more information about the extent of the inquiries was important in what was “a very worrying situation”. She added: “I am very distressed by this.
“Having nine children myself, I am horrified to hear it and I knew nothing about it. That this could happen in this area and yet I don’t know about it is worrying.
“We do need to know what is going on.”
The police inquiry team is made up of central divisional staff taken from Lochaber, Skye and Lochalsh, Ross and Cromarty and the Western Isles.
