THREE former children's institutions in Helensburgh and Lomond are to be the focus of investigations by the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry.

St Andrew's School in Shandon, the Lagarie House children's home in Rhu, and the Cardross Park Assessment Centre are part of a list of 17 institutions which the inquiry team says it is "investigating as part of its ongoing work".

The three institutions - all of which have now closed - were run, in whole or in part, by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Glasgow, the Sailors' Society and Argyll and Bute Council respectively

The inquiry now wants anyone who has information about historic child abuse at the institutions to get in touch.

Lady Smith, chair of the inquiry, said: “Please would anyone who has any relevant information about any of these institutions contact the Inquiry.

“It does not matter whether you have already made a report to the police or to anyone else and it does not matter whether or not you have been involved in any other investigation.

"You can still talk to us and we want to hear from you.”

Lady Smith added: “I am well aware that it can be difficult and very emotional to talk about experiences in care and I want to take this opportunity to give an assurance that we have a dedicated witness support team here who will help and support anyone providing evidence to us. They will do so throughout the process.”

A spokesman for Argyll and Bute Council said: “We will provide our full co-operation to the inquiry and would encourage anyone who has been the victim of abuse to come forward, whether or not the abuse was reported to the police and regardless of how long ago it took place.

"Support is available from a number of organisations, including the Samaritans who can be reached by telephone on 116 123 or online at www.samaritans.org."

Stuart Rivers, CEO of the Sailors’ Society, said: “We deeply regret that any child was abused at the home and apologise unreservedly for any abuse that was suffered by children who were in the care of the British Sailors' Society (Scotland).

“There is a vast gulf, not only in time but in practises, between these events and the current operation, governance and management of this organisation. The stories we have heard from survivors are deeply distressing to everyone who works so tirelessly for this charity today.

"The charity has cooperated fully with police and the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry – and will continue to do so.

“I have written to all former residents we have had any contact with to date apologising for any abuse suffered and encouraging them to make contact with police and the inquiry if they felt able to do so.”

A spokesman for the Archdiocese of Glasgow added: "The Archdiocese will be glad to cooperate in any way it can with the inquiry."

The list of 17 institutions being investigated, and the organisations which run (or ran) them, is as follows.

St Andrew’s School, Shandon (Archdiocese of Glasgow)

Lagarie House Children’s Home, Rhu (Sailor’s Society)

Redheugh Adolescent Unit, Kilbirnie (Salvation Army)

Balnacraig School (Perth)

Royal Blind School (Edinburgh)

Oakbank School, Aberdeen (Oakbank School Trust)

Harmeny School, Edinburgh (Harmeny Education Trust)

Donaldson’s School for Deaf Children (The Donaldson Trust)

Humbie Care Home, Humbie (Algrade)

Queen Victoria School, Dunblane

Ovenstone Residential School (Fife Council)

Park Lodge, Calderwood Road (Glasgow City Council)

Cardross Park Assessment Centre (Argyll & Bute Council)

Dunclutha Children’s Home, Dunoon (Argyll & Bute Council)

Balrossie School (Inverclyde Council)

Lennox Castle Hospital, Lennoxtown (NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde)

Royal Scottish National Hospital, Larbert (NHS Forth Valley)

Anyone wishing to contact the Inquiry can do so via the methods below.

By telephone at: Freephone 0800 0929 300

By email to: talktous@childabuseinquiry.scot

By post to: PO BOX 24085, Edinburgh, EH7 9EA

For further details on how to contact the inquiry, please see www.childabuseinquiry.scot