Two twisted predators who were jailed for raping and abusing vulnerable children at Stevenston's Kerelaw School denied their crimes again as they gave evidence to the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry

Matthew George, 74, from Largs and John Muldoon, 70, from Irvine, are currently serving lengthy sentences for their crimes.

Both denied there had been any sexual abuse at Kerelaw as they gave evidence to the inquiry via video link from jail.

They also claimed they would be willing to take lie detector tests to prove their innocence.

During the inquiry, former art teacher George was asked by Dana Forbes, senior counsel to the inquiry, about a series of fresh allegations of sexual and physical abuse at Kerelaw.

In answer to each of them, George said: “I refuse to answer that on the grounds that I might incriminate myself at a future trial.”

Former unit manager Muldoon, now serving a 12-year sentence for crimes including the rape of two girls, denied there had been any kind of sexual abuse at Kerelaw in his 21 years there.

George, who was caged for 16 years in January last year for a series of indecent and physical assaults, also insisted he was innocent of all the accusations, stating: “I will deny them until the day I die.”

Both men were found guilty of historic sexual and violent offences against 28 youngsters, 20 male and eight female, at Kerelaw, which closed almost 20 years ago.

Irvine Times: Kerelaw

The pair had been handed shorter jail terms in 2006 after being found guilty of similar offences.

Their sick catalogue of offending was carried out between 1975 and 2004.

Six of their victims died before the trial and another was too unwell to give evidence.

Muldoon claimed those who had made statements to the inquiry were driven by the prospect compensation from Redress Scotland.

Inquiry chair Lady Smith told him: “You should know that some of the people who have given evidence have said they won’t have anything to do with Redress Scotland, and have no intention of going to the civil courts.

“They have not come forward for compensation, and some have said they would regard it as tainted money.”

Questioned about the use of restraints to bring children “under control”, Muldoon admitted that these had been used “as a last resort” and children might well have been hurt.

He claimed no one he had restrained had ever required treatment for injuries.

Kerelaw was originally run by Strathclyde Regional Council, before being taken over by Glasgow City Council.

Sentencing George last year, Lady Drummond said: “These young people at Kerelaw were some of the most vulnerable in society and were there to be looked after.

“You took advantage of your role to groom and manipulate them. They were too frightened of you to speak out.

“The trauma they have suffered in your hands compounds the difficult start they had in life.

"Your behaviour destroyed their childhoods and had a devastating impact on their adult lives.”

The inquiry continues.