A GAGGING order concealing the identity of a former teacher accused of molesting boys has been lifted – officially revealing his name.
Iain Wares can now be named as the man accused by BBC presenter Nicky Campbell and others of sexually abusing Edinburgh Academy pupils and Fettes College in the sixties and seventies.
After a legal challenge, the chair of the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry – which is examining the historic abuse of children in care – Lady Smith ruled the true identity of the alleged perpetrator could be revealed.
He had previously been referred to as “Edgar” – and his name was mentioned in parliament by former SNP Westminster group leader Ian Blackford, after he had stepped down from that role, in January.
Blackford had used parliamentary privilege – which effectively lifts most rules around defamation and contempt of court, in most cases – to name Wares.
But an order issued by the inquiry was in place at the time restricting identification.
This was challenged by media organisations including BBC Scotland and the Daily Mail’s publishers.
Lady Smith’s ruling said: “I have decided to permit inquiry evidence that identifies the protected person to be disclosed and published by any person who wishes to do so.
“The cipher that currently appears over his name in the inquiry’s published transcripts and statements will be lifted and any redactions that have been made to protect his identity will be lifted.”
Wares was arrested in South Africa – where he moved in 1979, according to The Times – earlier this year after an extradition order was signed in 2020 to extradite him to Britain on six counts of charges of lewd, indecent and libidinous behaviour and one charge of indecent assault.
