THE Church of Scotland minister at the centre of the Orkney child sex
abuse allegations had a hot-water bottle in his main bedroom with a
legend referring to a sexually abused youngster as The Big Boy, the
inquiry was told yesterday.
The Rev. Morris McKenzie and his wife Jan were among a close-knit
group of South Ronaldsay islanders who sent letters, postcards, and
gifts to eight children from the W family.
Former Orkney social worker Mrs Sue Millar said yesterday much of the
correspondence contained coded messages which were later linked to
allegations by three of the children of an organised child sex abuse
network.
Many of the letters were read to the inquiry yesterday by Mr Hugh
Campbell QC, representing the Royal Scottish Society for the Prevention
of Cruelty to Children.
Constant references were made to love hearts, Brownies, and the Boys'
Brigade, and a middle-aged woman referred to one of the boys, BW, as The
Beast.
Mrs Millar told the inquiry police had informed the social work
department about a hot-water bottle taken from Mr McKenzie's manse.
Mr Campbell showed her a photograph of it. He said it had come from
the main bedroom of the manse and bore the legend ''B -- The Big Boy.''
He asked: ''Did that fit in with the nature of the correspondence from
others who were referred to in the W children's disclosures?''
She said: ''Yes, in terms of a sexual context with the Rev.
McKenzie.''
The inquiry was told that Mrs W sent one of her daughters, AW, a poem
which said: ''No harm can come to one another, when we love each sister
and brother.''
Mr Campbell asked Mrs Millar if that was a poem she fixed upon given
the history of abuse between brothers and sisters within the W family.
She said one of the other girls mentioned having a sexual relationship
with her mother and ''it all began to fit into place''.
Mr Campbell: ''If it be that there has been connection between brother
and sister that the mother was aware of, did it seem to you that this
was a particularly revolting reference in terms of it being sent to a
child of tender years?''
Mrs Millar: ''I think it is a very inappropriate reference. I would be
resistant to being too judgmental given the very difficult situation
that incest obviously is.''
The eight W children were taken from Orkney last November when one of
the girls revealed abuse within the family.
In February three of the children -- aged seven, eight, and nine --
told social workers that orgies had taken place in an Orkney quarry and
that Mr McKenzie and some adults had abused children.
Police and social workers took away nine children on February 27.
Mr Campbell said the correspondence which gave rise to concern came
from four main sources: the W household; Mrs T; Mr and Mrs M; and Mr and
Mrs McKenzie.
He asked Mrs Millar about letters from Mrs T to nine-year-old BW in
which she called him ''B -- the beast''. Mrs Millar said that Mrs T
often wrote ''I love you'' on her notes to BW.
Mr Campbell asked her if her concerns about such references were
heightened after the nine children were taken into care.
Mrs Millar: ''In terms of the statements that the girls made about
having seen BW sexually involved with Mrs T and saying that BW was very
sad and not happy about it.''
Among the other letters and cards read out by Mr Campbell yesterday
were:
* References to German lessons. One letter from the McKenzies to AW
read: ''Dear A. Are you getting any German. I am told you are missed in
class.'' Mrs Millar said the girl was too young to be learning German.
* Constant references to rainbows. The girl QW, while making sexual
allegations, began to draw a rainbow, a girl in a wheelchair, and
someone coming out of the rainbow. She then became upset and drew an
even larger rainbow.
* Constant mention of Brownies and the Boys' Brigade, including a poem
from Mrs W to QW which read: ''Darling Q, please be glad. Think of all
the love you've had.'' The letter referred to a Brownie pack.
* When the children made their allegations, some said they were
dressed in BB, Brownie, or cowboy uniforms before being abused.
The inquiry continues.
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