Islanders innocent, Orkney council says

Councillors on Orkney have all but declared that everyone involved in the child sex abuse allegations on the island of South Ronaldsay are innocent.

But at an emergency meeting yesterday, members stopped short of making a full apology to all those said to have taken part in the alleged sexual rituals.

They specifically mentioned the four sets of parents, their children, and Church of Scotland minister, the Rev Morris McKenzie, and his wife, Jan.

A five-strong investigative team of councillors has been set up to investigate the operation, which was heavily criticised in a report by Lord Clyde earlier this week. They are also to consider disciplinary action against council employees involved.

The comments were made in a statement by the council convenor, Jackie Tait, after a day-long meeting. He said: 'The council unequivocally accepts Lord Clyde's view that the parents and children involved and Mr and Mrs McKenzie must be accorded the presumption of innocence.'

Mr Tait claimed the statement could not go further because of legal action being brought by the families. Cyril Annal, a South Ronaldsay councillor, said: 'Effectively they are saying everyone is innocent.'

The children were snatched by police and social workers after allegations that 64-year-old Mr McKenzie had led bizarre paedophile rituals in a quarry.

One mother welcomed the statement but said she would not rest until she received an apology. 'We want a few heads to roll . . . But at least they are beginning to speak up as much as they can.'