Reading the Dunfermline Press of Thursday April 9 2025 I was struck by an article about a former Fife Council official, 70 year old James Beveridge, of Kelty, who had posed as a good Samaritan to gain access to the home of an 80 year old lady with dementia only to sexually abuse her there.
The report states he was caught on security camera giving the helpless old lady a “countdown” instruction for her to start the sex act on him, suggesting this was a recurring event. However perhaps the most shocking thing in the report was that the perpetrator didn’t receive a custodial sentence from Sheriff Susan Duff at Dunfermline Sheriff Court where similar, often lesser offences, do.
I wasn’t alone in my puzzlement at the light sentence as social media sites that carried a more detailed court report attracted record numbers of angry comments by readers outraged by the inexplicable leniency shown by the court. LINK
The article reminded me of a previous incident in July 2016, when another recently retired Fife council official, 66 year old John Fraser, of Lochore, was convicted at Dunfermline Sheriff Court of taking or making child pornography at his home over a 3 year period.
What caused great anger then, among local people who had attended the trial, was the fact that the trial wasn’t published in the press and it was only after an outcry from them that his appearance for sentencing on 11 August 2016 was reported. This in turn caused even greater anger, because of the leniency of his non-custodial sentence. LINK
There is no public record of trials in Scotland and if the press don’t report on proceedings what takes place at a trial is a matter of speculation. At the time of Fraser’s sentencing locals thought he’d escaped the publicity of a trial and a custodial sentence due to the fact he was a senior Mason in the local lodge. I looked into this at the time and found evidence of photos showing that Fraser was indeed a Past Master of Lodge No 1183, Ballingry.
Top pic shows Past Master Fraser inset and back row 2nd from left & bottom pic shows him inset and 2nd from right front row.
This got me wondering if Beveridge had similar Masonic connections, and it turns out he has. He is a Past Master of Lodge Kelty Oak No 877, and in 2021 featured in the local press for his charitable works as Second Principal (Haggai, the Prophet) of Prudence Royal Arch Chapter, 343, Kelty. LINK
Since 2021 Beveridge has been exalted to First Principal (Zerubbabel, Prince of Jerusalem) of the Kelty Royal Arch Chapter.
Pic shows First Principal of Kelty Royal Arch James Beveridge being congratulated on his exaltation by the First Grand Principal, of the Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Scotland, William Ramsay McGhee.
COULD LODGE LEADERS BE LET OFF LIGHTLY IN COURT BY FRATERNAL BIAS?
So two senior Masons and ex-Fife Council officials from villages within a few miles of each other in Fife were found guilty of serious sex offences and got off lightly, which begs the question why? Did their senior Masonic status influence (either consciously or unconsciously) the judges’ sentencing?
Sheriff Craig McSherry who sentenced Fraser in 2016 and Sheriff Susan Duff who sentenced Beveridge in 2025 are not required to declare interests in anything, so we don’t know if they have Masonic membership or connections that might be perceived by an informed observer of posing questions as to their objectivity.
The non-declaration of interests by members of the judiciary in Scotland has long been a controversial topic, not least to me as I have campaigned for judges to declare membership of secret societies as they do in Norway.
I am not alone in my concerns and perhaps the best known advocate for reform of the law is Peter Cherbi, whose Public Petition 1458, calls for Scots judges to fall into line with other jurisdictions like New Zealand were declaration of all interests, financial or otherwise is mandatory. Justice campaigner and blogger Cherbi’s petition is still alive with the Parliament after 13 years, and though opposed by Scotland’s senior judges it was backed by the Scottish Government in 2021.
Despite the government’s backing of changes to the rules regarding declarations of interest by judges they have yet to be enacted into legislation, so we still don’t know what outside interests, Masonic or otherwise our judges have. It is left to judges to decide if they should recuse themselves if they think they have a possible conflict of interests.
So we are left to speculate in the above cases whether or not Masonic membership and rank could have influenced the judges.
COULD LODGE LEADERS BE LET OFF LIGHTLY BY INTERESTS OTHER THAN FRATERNAL?
Could other possible conflicts of interests have led to the light sentencing of the two vile sex offenders at Dunfermline? Conflicts in the Reports Before Sentencing, (RBS), process that sheriffs routinely call for before passing sentence?
Dunfermline Sheriff Court call on Fife Council, as the local authority to compile such reports and in the above two cases the convicted men would have been interviewed by former colleagues, who, for all we know, may have had working relationships with them (Fraser was Heating Eng. Officer in Bellyeoman Rd Depot, Beveridge a supervisor in the Environmental Health Dept.). Even if the RBS team didn’t work with the convicted men they may have felt a bond arising from their common employer.
Surely the common employer bond between assessor and assessed of itself would raise questions about the objective impartiality of their Fife Council RBS?
WHAT DO WE KNOW OF THE FIFE COUNCIL STAFF WHO COMPILE REPORTS BEFORE SENTENCING?
Because of the apparent annoyance of Sheriff Duff in having to give a light sentence to Beveridge I tried to find out (by a Freedom of Information request to Ken Gourlay, Fife Council’s C.E.O) who carries out the RBS and what declarations of interest they give. Other than stating that 76 Social Workers and Senior Practitioners were qualified and trained to complete justice social work reports for the Court, the answer back from Ken was pretty much “I’m telling you nothing”
My F.O.I. failed to reveal the identities of the authors of reports, but highlighted the fact that others contributed to RBS. Mr. Gourlay’s response revealed: “The work performed by Fife Council personnel who respond to requests from Dunfermline Sheriff Court contains the views of others. By releasing the identities of the specified personnel, it could be used to target or discredit professionals.” & “this is likely to inhibit the free and frank exchange of views for the purposes of deliberation.” & “we can advise that Fife Council does not have a Register of Interests for Fife Council personnel who carry out the interviews and compilation reports and therefore cannot be provided.”
I am not satisfied with Mr. Gourlay’s response and will take the matter further, but rest assured I don’t wish to target or discredit professionals, rather I want to understand how they are chosen, and what interests they have. Mr Gourlay’s defensive reply to my F.O.I. raises doubts as to his own professionalism.
WHAT DO WE KNOW OF “THE VIEWS OF OTHERS” WHO HAVE AN INPUT INTO THE REPORTS BEFORE SENTENCING?
As a rule any assessment of a person’character will take into account their employment record and their interests. A Probation Officer would certainly seek references from past employers and any community groups the offender was involved in.
The 11th Earl of Elgin a Past Grand Master Mason of Scotland once said in a press interview that the Craft was “part of the warp and weft of civic life in Scotland” and as statistics taken from Paul M Bessel’s International Masonic site show Scotland has the highest per capita Masonic membership in the world, it is hardly surprising that the Provost of Fife, councillor Jim Leishman is a prominent Mason.
As the leader of Fife Council one would imagine that Brother Leishman would be fulsome in the praise of John Fraser’s charitable works, because in 2014 he took him, together with local businessman Kevin Sharp, the current Master of Lodge Ballingry, to distribute Easter Eggs (and career advice) to primary school children at the local school. LINK
As for referees in the case of James Beveridge, Past Master Mason and First Principal of the Royal Arch, it seems more than likely that the man who exalted him from Second Principal to First Principal, the First Grand Principal, of the Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Scotland, William Ramsay McGhee, would speak in his favour.
First Principal and High Priest of Royal Arch, McGhee’s word would carry weight in the justice system, as he was part of it, having served for thirty years with Northern Constabulary – latterly as Divisional Commander and Head of Operations. He was also the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Ross, Cromarty, Skye and Lochalsh, and a former Most Worshipful Grand Master Mason of The Grand Lodge of Scotland, as well as being the leader of the Royal Arch in Scotland.
The man seen above in his First Grand Principal’s robes exalted Fraser so would be duty bound to come to the aid of his brother in distress and would no doubt vouch for his former good character and charitable works, otherwise he wouldn’t have promoted him from Second to First Principal.
An exaltation no doubt that took account of the charitable works of Kelty Royal Arch members led by Beveridge who donated a cheque towards a trampoline for the children of Gordon Cottage Child Development Centre, a care home in Kelty for underprivileged children.
Provost Leishman may also have come to the aid of Beveridge, as a Masonic brother and fellow Fife Council employee, by citing his bravery, which in 2014 made the national news in a Daily Mail article that stated his job of giving fines to dog owners identified by Fife Council’s infra-red mobile unit, was so dangerous he was required to wear an anti-stab vest. LINK
Who knows what references were given to one of the 76 professionals from Fife Council who compiled the RBS, which resulted in a punishment that was perceived by hundreds to be less than befitting Beveridge’s crime?
Given the inconsistency of sentencing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court I believe we should know the author of RBS, who was consulted and what interests they have.
AM I READING TOO MUCH INTO THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN FIFE COUNCIL AND FIFE MASONIC LODGES?
I don’t think I am as the above examples are not isolated, and the cosy relationship between Fife council and The Craft is exemplified on the Lodge of Dunfermline website, which openly boasts of: “A Second Degree with a few Fife Council employees – and a few sub contractors!!!!!”
The lodge’s piece features Fife Council officers, lodge officers and local businessmen employed by the council being treated at a lodge social night especially for them. This begs the question, are Fife Council employees the right people to compile R.B.S? It also raises the wider question of whether meritocracy or masonry determines who gets council contracts? LINK
Fife Council are also on record as giving Covid grants to Freemasons and quotes the then Master Mason, the ubiquitous Ramsay McGhee, urging the brethren to apply for anything that is going. LINK
As it stands we know little about the Fife Council members who compile the RBS and given the prevalence of freemasonry in the ranks of Fife Council, they, like those who give them references, may be brethren too!
MAINSTREAM MEDIA REPORT ON MASONIC MUNIFICENCE AND THE CRIMES OF MISCREANTS, BUT WE NEVER GET THE LINK BETWEEN MISCREANTS AND MASONRY.
In the two cases above, local knowledge and the seniority of those involved led me easily to establish the Masonic status of both sex criminals. But there seems to be an Omerta in the press in linking the membership of criminals with organisations such as the Masons. Contrast this with Roman Catholic clergymen who commit sex crimes. They are named as such, and rightly so, as their position of trust as priests gives them standing in the community, consequently their sex crimes are doubly abhorrent because of the breach of that trust. But what of the position of trust that goes with Royal Arch priests?
Oh! I forgot it’s a secret.
ENDS
Footnote: If you find this blog of interest you may like to check out my blog on Fife’s freemasons links to orangeism here: LINK
