Five men now in their sixties and seventies have gone on trial accused of sexually and physically abusing pupils in their care at a school in Fife between 1967 and 1983.
They are charged with abusing boys, who were aged between 11 and 16, at the former St Ninian’s School in Falkland.
John Farrell, 73, Paul Kelly, 63, Edward Egan, 78, Michael Murphy, 76, and William Don, 61, denied the charges against them at the High Court in Glasgow.
Farrell, who is represented by QC Edward Targowski, lodged a special defence of alibi and Don, who is represented by advocate Laura Thomson , lodged special defences of alibi and incrimination.
The court indictment lists 121 charges involving sexual abuse and physical abuse and dozens of witnesses are expected to give evidence. The majority of the allegations are against Farrell and Kelly.
The Crown claim that a total of 35 boys were allegedly abused at the school. Many of them allege they were assaulted with a variety of implements, including shoes, belt and a ruler.
Among other claims is an accusation that Kelly left a 13-year-old boy rolled up in a rug overnight.
He is also said to have stripped another pupil and hung him upside down from a bridge.
Farrell is accused among other charges of indecently assaulting a 12-year-old boy by simulating sex with him and forcing a pair of underpants into his mouth to prevent him screaming.
He also faces a charge that in the early 1980s he indecently assaulted a boy at a monastery on the isle of Iona.
He is further said to have attacked the same boy at a Catholic church in Motherwell in 1999.
All five deny all the charges against them.
Trial judge Lord Matthews told the jury of nine men and six women that the trial is expected to last 12 to 14 weeks.
The trial continues.