6-16-2010 United Kingdom:A FORMER Cambuslang and Cathkin pensioner who was found dead this month was facing a string of child sex allegations, it has emerged.
Alexander Berry (74) was found dead in a woodland estate near his home in Holywood, Dumfriesshire, on Thursday, June 3. A shotgun was found lying near his body.
Last week, a Crown Office spokesman confirmed that Berry, a published author and poet, was facing allegations that he had sexually abused children over a 26-year period.
He was alleged to have been involved in a number of incidents between 1957 and 1983.
Born in Blantyre in 1936, the retired clerk of works moved to Cambuslang and Cathkin when he was 22.
A source told the Reformer this week that some of the six alleged victims of the pensioner came from Blantyre and Cambuslang. He eventually moved to Dumfries with his family.
Berry was a well-respected member of the community in Dumfries and was a past president of the Cameronian Scottish rifles and a member of the British Red Cross. The 74-year-old worked on the Cowhill Estate in the area.
Earlier this month, Berry had been found on the estate by a shocked gardener.
Police are not treating the death of Berry, a former gun licence holder, as suspicious.
The deceased is survived by his wife of 52 years, Isobel, who is said to be battling cancer, and his two daughters.
A family member said last week that they were aware of allegations against Alex Berry.
However, she added: “We know that nothing in our experience suggest that the allegations are true.
“We do know however, he was the victim of anonymous letters and e-mails that have included fabrication of evidence.
“We don’t know if there is any relation between the fabricated evidence and the allegations.
“We don’t know if it was the same or different individuals that were involved, but we believe that this casts significant doubt on the truth of the allegations.”
The family of Berry’s alleged victims have told of their “outrage” at his death.
One source said: “It has robbed the victims of the chance to see him account for his horrible crimes in a court.
“For him to kill himself in such a manner shows no respect for his wife and her illness or his daughters, but shows he had much to lose in the community once his past was exposed.”
The source alleged Berry had sexually abused children as young as five, and even threatened one with a shotgun in woods near Blantyre after abusing him.
However, a Crown Office spokesman said the details will never be heard in court. He said: “As a result of his recent death, the case is now closed.” ..Source.. by Douglas Dickie, Rutherglen Reformer
No comments:
Post a Comment