Scottish bishops accused of covering-up at least 20 child-sex allegations

Academic Alan Draper advised Church on abuse allegations in 1990s



Has letters from Scotland's eight bishops which refer to 20 cases



Claims bishops were 'unwilling' to take allegations any further

Church of Scotland insists all allegations were passed on to police



Cardinal Keith O'Brien, Britain's most senior Roman Catholic cleric, resigned after admitting sexual misconduct

There was a widespread cover-up of child sex abuse in the Scottish Catholic church, it has been alleged .

Scots bishops reportedly knew of at least 20 allegations of abuse between 1985 and 1995.

The Church in Scotland insists child protection procedures have since improved dramatically and such cases are now rare.

In the mid-1990s, Alan Draper, a lecturer at Dundee University, was appointed to advise the Church on sexual abuse.

The BBC said it had seen letters to him from Scotland’s eight bishops which refer to 20 allegations of abuse by priests.

Academic Mr Draper said: ‘I was very concerned about their unwillingness to expose priests leading double lives. I felt that was totally inappropriate.’

The Church said he was involved ‘at an early stage’ but ‘was replaced when others with greater competence were engaged’.

More alleged victims are coming forward after Cardinal Keith O’Brien admitted sexual misconduct. He does not face criminal allegations or claims of child abuse.



Lawyer Cameron Fyfe said: ‘I’m acting for six clients who allege abuse, two of whom have come forward in the last few weeks.

‘Some of them go back to the early 1980s, but two of them have been within the last ten years.’

Allegations of sexual misconduct by priests plagued the papacy of Pope Benedict XVI who stepped down last month

He said two of his clients claimed to have been raped as children in the late-1980s and mid-1990s.

In a statement, the Church in Scotland said: ‘All allegations are notified to police. All necessary steps are taken to remove anyone in danger from situations of risk.’

Cardinals will begin the election of the new Pope on Tuesday. The conclave will begin with Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica, followed by the first balloting.