A former teacher at a prestigious private school in Scotland has been accused in court of physically harming and choking young boys under his supervision, with some reports of boys losing consciousness.
Former students of Edinburgh Academy, a prestigious private school in Scotland, claim that John Brownlee, who is currently 89 years old, committed abuse and instilled fear in boys as young as eight while he worked as a teacher and ran a boarding house at the school from 1967 to 1987.
The Edinburgh sheriff court was presented with testimony stating that Brownlee regularly and ceremoniously attacked the boys using a wooden paddle called a clacken. He also allegedly hit, kicked, and punched them without reason, which Brownlee has previously denied.
Neil McDonald, aged 55 and a former military officer, along with other individuals, have testified in court that the most severe violations occurred at Dundas House, the boarding facility for the prep school located near the Royal Botanic Garden in the city.
During the trial, McDonald testified that Brownlee would repeatedly slam boys’ heads into the corridor wall or onto their desks while they were doing homework. When he was especially angry, Brownlee would grab a boy’s collar and twist and flex his knuckles in order to choke him with his own shirt, according to McDonald’s account.
In court, the man stated, “He would grab you by the collar and kick you. Despite being just eight years old and small in weight, the force of his kicks would cause you to swing in the air as if you were a rugby ball. Once he was done, he threw me against the wall, leaving me terrified and in tears.”
Similar to other individuals who gave testimony, McDonald stated that his interactions with Brownlee resulted in severe and ongoing mental health issues. A psychiatrist determined that he was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. McDonald expressed self-hatred and viewed himself in a negative light, describing himself as worthless. He also shared with the court that he struggles with being himself.
A court has scheduled a special hearing to address 36 accusations of assault, causing injury, and inhumane treatment involving 38 students from the past. The trial is taking place without a jury as Brownlee’s dementia has rendered him unable to stand trial.
The fact-finding hearing, lasting three weeks, will be presided over by Sheriff Ian Anderson. It will result in a decision based on facts, rather than a criminal verdict, for Brownlee’s guilt.
Five former members of staff at Edinburgh Academy are facing charges of assault, including rape and attempted rape, against students. One of the former staff members, Hamish Dawson, who has since passed away, is accused of multiple incidents of sexual assault against male students at the school.
Nicky Campbell, a broadcaster for BBC, attended the school as a day pupil from 1966 to 1978. In court on Wednesday, Campbell testified that Brownlee, one of Dawson’s alleged victims, was both charming and unpredictably aggressive.
Supposedly, Brownlee frequently assembled boys in class to receive punishment with the clachan, a type of bat utilized by the school for a customary sport called hailes.
“It was an unimaginable, truly horrific experience,” Campbell expressed. “The waiting felt like mental torture, as if I were a helpless animal in a slaughterhouse. The fear was overwhelming.”
During one incident, it is claimed that Brownlee violently struck Campbell on the back of the neck and head, delivering blows repeatedly akin to a “knuckle dance”.
Campbell stated that he has experienced panic attacks, anxiety disorders, and nightmares due to the abuse and sexual assaults by other staff. He expressed that these experiences have had a profound impact on him and that he is often haunted by them at night.
A former student shared that Brownlee threw a chalk duster at him and it hit the wall with great force, causing a dent in the plaster. He added that Brownlee would often playfully hit boys with his fists or feet. Another person claimed that Brownlee made nine and ten-year-old boys dig his garden as punishment for being hit with a snowball during winter.
A person, who wishes to remain anonymous, shared that Brownlee violently attacked him by repeatedly slamming a folding blackboard door onto his head, causing him to lose consciousness while spittle flew from Brownlee’s mouth.
A previous resident of Dundas House, John Graham, testified to the court this week that Brownlee would deliberately harm the boys by using a steel comb to forcefully comb their hair in the morning in order to achieve a precise side part.
He remembered receiving discipline for a physical fight with another boy, receiving a punishment known as the “clachan” on his exposed bottom. Brownlee purportedly touched his buttocks before making him take a cold bath. Graham expressed embarrassment, stating, “I couldn’t confide in anyone – I would get physically attacked.”
Source: theguardian.com
