A man who was raped and beaten by monks at a children's home has been awarded more than £300,000.

The survivor, known as 'Victim T' was molested while staying at St Ninian's School in Falkland, Fife, where he lived between January 1979 and December 1980.

The horrifying attacks were carried out by Brother Farrell, who was jailed in 2016, and Brother Ryan, who is now dead.

The Congregation of Christian Brothers tried to "buy off" Victim T - who now suffers PTSD and hyper-vigilance - with an £82,000 cheque last year.

But this week a sheriff ordered them to pay nearly four times more in damages.

Victim T, who wished to remain anonymous, said he 'broke down' when he heard Sheriff's judgement.

He said: "Those monsters robbed me of a childhood, a living and the ability to simply connect with other people.

"I now hope to move on with my life and hope other victims out there find justice as well."

Under the care of the Christian Brothers he suffered the repeated and horrific attacks.

Victim T said at weekends Brother Ryan would frequently get drunk then rape him in his bedroom.

Brother Farrell also drank and molested Victim T on separate occasions.

Dozens of children are feared to have been targeted at St Ninian's in light of evidence heard at the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry.

It is thought Victim T was singled out because he was smaller than the other boys.

Brother Farrell was convicted of three indecent assault charges in July 2016 and sentenced to five years in prison.

Brother Ryan died in July 2013 before ever being investigated but it was ruled that his attacks did occur.

The brave survivor added: "I've had to persevere my whole life.

"It was hard because when there were hard days it made me difficult to be around and people just thought that was my personality, but it wasn't.

"They had to know my past to understand my present but I couldn't tell anyone when I could barely cope with it privately.

"When I heard of the Sheriff's judgement I just broke down with relief - especially after the Christian Brothers tried to buy me off with an unfair, unrealistic and frankly insulting

settlement.

"What's more sickening is their secret offers totally conflict with the assurances and pledges they gave the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry.

"Justice needs to be seen to be done for it to have any merit in society so for me it's not enough to receive compensation - the Christian Brothers need to be held accountable and need to exposed for the hypocrisy of their public words and private actions."

Victim T raised a civil action in the Court of Session in Edinburgh with specialist abuse lawyer Kim Leslie.

Mrs Leslie argued Victim T should be compensated not just for the abuse but also for lost income after mental trauma affected his ability to work.

In a written judgement Sheriff Kenneth McGowan ordered the Christian Brothers to pay £317,000 in damages.

He said: "The severity of the abuse in this case and the damage suffered by the pursuer justify an award near the top of the scale for cases of this nature."

Kim Leslie, Partner at Digby Brown Solicitors, said: "I have the utmost respect to our client for finding the strength to step forward - not just to help convict Brother Farrell but hold the Christian Brothers accountable as an entity.

"Not all of these cases need to go to court but we are always prepared for it because it's the only way our clients have the best possible chance to obtain the justice, damages and recognition they deserve."

Man who was raped by monks at Fife children’s home is awarded £300,000