‘Mitchell's criminal activities and his attempts to corrupt other pupils with drugs and Satanism were no secret at St David's. But at a time when the Scottish Executive's policy was to avoid excluding troublesome pupils, he was allowed to remain at the school, mixing with other youngsters - one of whom would pay for her relationship with him with her life.
One school source said:
"Luke's problem at school was indiscipline. He had control over a group of pupils who were scared of him. But he would also defy teachers. If he didn't want to do something, he wouldn't do it.
"I don't think the teachers had control of him. I think he was in control."
Mitchell was recognised as the ringleader of a group of pupils who were involved in "Goth" culture, fascinated with Satanism and the occult. Yet sources at the school say his behaviour was not brought to the attention of the school board.
One parent close to the school management team said: "It's very worrying it wasn't picked up and dealt with earlier. Parents were not told there was any problem with Satanism and I don't remember hearing Luke Mitchell's name raised. If teachers had worries, but these weren't acted on sufficiently because of the local authority, that would be very concerning."
There were signs of serious problems with pupil behaviour at St David's even before Jodi's murder. In 2001 13-year-old Emma Robertson hanged herself in her bedroom at the family home in Dalkeith. Fellow pupils claimed she had been the victim of bullying, which some said was rife in the school. The then headmaster, Joe Boyd, denied bullying was a serious problem. Just one month later a further scandal hit St David's when four 14-year-olds were reported to the police after being caught with cannabis in the school gym. All four were suspended, but none were permanently excluded.
The report noted that "the guidance team, although containing mostly new and acting guidance teachers, managed their respective responsibilities well" and there were "very good" arrangements for supporting children's welfare.
Yet some teachers were concerned about Mitchell's obsession with violence and the occult. He was referred to an educational psychologist after an assault on another pupil when he was in primary school, aged 11. By January 2003 some teachers at St David's were also growing concerned.
English teacher Geraldine Mackie received an essay from Mitchell on the subject of the end of the world. In it, he described himself as violent and Satanic. "It was quite worrying," Mackie told Mitchell's trial. "There were quite a few things in it I found a little bit disturbing. I thought he needed to have a little chat with someone - perhaps he was in need of support."
But what is clear is that Mitchell's behaviour continued to spiral out of control. At one point he carved the Satanic number 666 into his arm with a school compass, and it has been reported that a music teacher intervened as Mitchell throttled another pupil. On that occasion it is believed that he was referred to an educational psychologist, but refused treatment. A spokeswoman for Midlothian council refused to comment on whether police, social workers or mental health professionals had been approached by the school about Mitchell. Asked if the school had tackled Mitchell's drug dealing, she insisted it "was not happening inside the school".
https://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2008/07_08/2008_07_01_ScotlandOnSunday_SafeCatholic.htm
