It has taken more than four years, but last month the former principal teacher of the residential school at the centre of one of Scotland’s biggest child abuse investigations finally cleared his name.

A PERTH foster carer who preyed on teenage boys was jailed for eight years and three months at the High Court in Paisley yesterday. Paulnacha O’Mairthini subjected four boys to a catalogue of sexual abuse and attacks over a period of more than six years.

INVERNESS’S area police commander is concerned about the number of crimes committed against children after newly-published figures reveal a worrying rise in cases.

One in five care services in Scotland are failing to make adequate checks on staff, according to the care regulator. A Care Commission review found some staff were being employed without crime checks and with unverified qualifications and references.

THE director of a north-east charity has accused Aberdeenshire Council of misspending public funds, but the council has rejected the allegation.

HIGHLAND Council’s social work committee approved a new homelessness strategy today in a bid to counter homelessness. Across the region the number of households applying for homeless assistance has more than doubled since 2000.

Assaults against local government workers in Scotland have increased by 43% in the past year, a Unison Scotland survey has suggested.

Moray Council has announced a potential overspend in its home-care budget, because of an increased demand in the service. The council is projecting an overspend of £162,000 on the home-care service this year, but councillors at a health and social care services committee meeting yesterday stated that this showed that it was an important section of council work.

A NORTH east Fife councillor at the centre of the row over increased home care charges has defended the policy amid calls for it to be scrapped in the wake of the Glenrothes by-election result.

SMOKERS will not be allowed to foster or adopt children below five years old under new rules approved this week by Falkirk Council. As The Falkirk Herald predicted in its front page story last week, the council this week gave its backing to revised adoption and fostering criteria which include not placing children under the age of five in the care of smokers. The council intends to bring in the new rules by the end of the year.