A man who claims he was abused at a Catholic school in the Highlands has launched a six-figure civil action.

Lawyers acting on behalf of former pupil Hugh Kennedy, 56, who now lives in England, are pursuing the last remaining trustee of Fort Augustus Abbey.

The order of Benedictine Monks who ran the Abbey and the Catholic Church are denying any liability to solicitors Digby Brown, who have now lodged a civil action against trustee and priest the Right Reverend Paul Bonnici, whose last known residence is in Malta.

He is not connected to any of the abuse allegations, but is being pursued as the only remaining trustee of the Fort Augustus Abbey board.

Mr Kennedy claims he suffered years of abuse at the Loch Ness-side abbey.

The abbey was an exclusive prep school where parents sent their children for a Catholic education.

It became the focus of allegations relating to decades of systematic abuse and alleged victims will next month be giving evidence at the ongoing Child Abuse Inquiry.

Mr Kennedy alleges he was abused at the school when he was a youngster.

Kim Leslie, specialist abuse solicitor and Partner at Digby Brown Solicitors, said: “After conducting thorough investigations of historic abuse at Fort Augustus I can confirm the result of our inquiries means we have now raised a court action.

“When it comes to civil matters we make every effort to hold those responsible to account.”

A spokeswoman for a firm of solicitors which once acted for The Trustees for St Benedict’s Abbey, and is named in proceedings for the civil action, said: “We have no involvement in this matter.”

Fr Paul Bonnici was ordained for Fort Augustus Abbey and joined the Aberdeen Diocese after the closure of the monastery. He was parish priest of Lerwick in Shetland from 2005-2008. It is understood he then went to work in Malta.