BRIAN DAILEY'S HORRIFIC CRIMES IN EDINBURGH AND LANARKSHIRE LEAD TO 15-YEAR JAIL SENTENCE
In September 2022, a man named Brian Dailey, aged 75, was sentenced to a lengthy prison term of 15 years after being convicted of heinous crimes committed against children in care homes across Lanarkshire and Edinburgh.The High Court in Glasgow heard how Dailey, a convicted paedophile, had inflicted unimaginable suffering on eleven young victims, whose identities remain protected for legal reasons.
These children, who were in vulnerable positions at various care facilities, endured sexual abuse and torture at the hands of Dailey over a decade-long period from 1969 to 1979.
Dailey’s criminal history includes a previous conviction in 2017, where he received a 10-year sentence for similar offences.
The recent trial revealed that he had assaulted nine boys and two girls while working at Smyllum Park orphanage in Lanark and Ladymary residential school in Edinburgh’s Colinton district.
The court was informed that the investigation into Dailey’s activities was reopened after victims, who had previously remained silent, found the courage to come forward and report their abuse.
This led to a second police inquiry, which ultimately resulted in his conviction.
During the sentencing hearing, Judge Lord Stuart emphasized the devastating impact of Dailey’s actions.
He stated that the offender had caused lifelong trauma to his victims, many of whom suffered both physical and psychological harm that would never fully heal.
The judge remarked, “Reports which have been provided to the court show you express no remorse and no insight to the consequences of your offending.
It is clear from the evidence available to the jurors that you caused irrevocable damage and you blighted the lives of those who you abused.
You have caused permanent physical and psychological harm which they will never recover from.
To put it simply, you have ruined the lives of these children.
They came looking to you for care and support, and instead, they received abuse.” Dailey’s earlier convictions included charges of rape, lewd and libidinous behaviour, as well as indecent and physical assault.
Despite his age and health issues, including being wheelchair-bound, the court ordered that he remain on the Sex Offenders Register and continue to be monitored.
The judge also noted that Dailey had denied the allegations, claiming he had no involvement in the crimes and that he had started working at Smyllum as a volunteer while employed at a chemist.
He admitted to abusing three boys at Smyllum, recalling one victim crying extensively, and further assaulted another during a trip to Girvan in Ayrshire.
Dailey recounted to the court that after losing his town council seat, he moved to Edinburgh around 1973, where he began working at Ladymary, a facility run by the Good Shepherd Sisters.
It was during this period that he committed additional abuses, including raping a girl and sexually assaulting other children.
One of his victims, a boy, remembered Dailey owning a Triumph Stag car at the time of the abuse, although Dailey claimed he had never driven a car, having failed his driving tests multiple times.
Further allegations included abuse at the Royal Commonwealth swimming pool in Edinburgh, where one victim was assaulted, and claims from another victim that a nun at Ladymary used to “drug” children.
Dailey dismissed these claims as “rubbish” and “false memories.” When questioned about vetting procedures, he admitted that he had not undergone any background checks for his positions, as such procedures were not common at the time.
In addition to the recent conviction, the court was informed of Dailey’s previous jail term from the 1970s, which involved the abuse of multiple children.
His health was noted to be poor, with reports indicating he was scheduled for a medical examination while in prison.
The court also ordered that Dailey be placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely, reflecting the severity and ongoing risk associated with his crimes.
Overall, the case of Brian Dailey highlights a dark chapter in the history of child care in Scotland, revealing systemic failures and the lasting scars inflicted on innocent victims.
His actions, spanning over a decade, have left indelible marks on the lives of those he was entrusted to care for, and his lengthy imprisonment aims to serve justice for the suffering he caused.
