A Scottish court has found that a convicted paedophile who was deemed unfit to stand trial sexually abused two boys while working at the Quarriers children’s home in Renfrewshire in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Sheriff court proceedings in Greenock concluded an "examination of the facts" after an independent medical assessment determined John Porteous, 92, was unfit to be criminally tried or to appear in court. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service said two charges were found to be established: one of indecent assault and one of lewd, indecent and libidinous practices and behaviour, relating to offences between 1966 and 1972 while Porteous served as a houseparent at Quarriers Village near Bridge of Weir.
Porteous was previously convicted in 2002 at the High Court in Glasgow of sexually abusing two boys at Quarriers and was sentenced to eight years in prison; that term was later reduced to five years on appeal. He gave evidence to the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (SCAI) but has consistently denied the allegations. Following the Greenock proceedings, his name was added to the sex offenders’ register for five years.
Procurator Fiscal Anne Marie Hicks of the COPFS said the outcome was a public airing and an acknowledgment that criminal acts had occurred. "John Porteous exploited his position of authority at the Quarriers Village to sexually abuse vulnerable young boys," she said, adding that Scotland's prosecutors remain committed to investigating these offences and urging victims to report when they are ready.
One of the victims, David Whelan, who has campaigned for the rights of survivors of institutional abuse, said the proceedings confirmed what he and others have long said about Porteous. Whelan told the inquiry in 2018 he had been abused in a church belltower before Sunday service and has previously suggested a paedophile ring may have operated at the home. He said Porteous and members of his family repeatedly denied the abuse, and that those who supported Porteous should "hang their heads in shame."
Whelan said that a phone call from Porteous’s wife asking him to be a character witness prompted him to disclose the abuse, a decision that later helped trigger what became one of Scotland’s largest police investigations into historic child abuse. At the SCAI, which has been chaired by Lady Smith, former residents described conditions at Quarriers as being likened to a prison camp.
Quarriers issued an "unreserved apology" to people who suffered abuse while in its care and acknowledged the courage of those who came forward. The organisation said it remains committed to supporting former residents and to working with the survivor community to ensure access to high-quality support and aftercare. In 2021, the charity faced criticism after it declined to contribute to a compensation fund for survivors, prompting public anger from abuse victims.
The court had ordered an examination of facts because medical evidence indicated Porteous could not participate in a criminal trial. In that process, evidence was led by the procurator fiscal depute and the defence and tested before the sheriff. The COPFS said the finding that the offences were established is now a matter of public record and sends a clear message that abuse will be robustly investigated regardless of how long ago it occurred.
The case adds to wider scrutiny of institutional child abuse in Scotland and follows years of investigations and testimonies brought before the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry. Authorities and survivors continue to press for accountability and support mechanisms for those who experienced abuse while in care.