THE case involving the killing of a peacock in Pittencrieff Park has been "dealt" with by the Children's Hearing System but the volunteers who care for the birds said they won't have closure until they know the outcome.

Two youths, aged 11 and 13, were identified by police after the shocking attack on the aviary on May 30 that left Malcolm dead and Louis injured severely.

The Scottish Children's Reporter Administration (SCRA) apparently concluded the case at the end of November but the Peacocks in Pittencrieff Park group, who look after 16 birds in the Glen, said they had no idea what – if any – punishment has been handed out.

To add to their torment, the volunteers also had to fight to get Malcolm's body back – they wanted to bury him at the aviary near his plaque – after being told it would be incinerated as it was classed as "clinical waste".

A post on their page said: "The SCRA have stated that the case has been ‘dealt’ with but are withholding the outcome from us as is it is only to be shared with the parents/guardians and any victim.

"Because they class the peacock sanctuary 'as a collective charity', we aren’t deemed as a victim.

"We obviously completely disagree as there were many people directly affected by their actions and all we seek is justice for our boys.

"There was a terrible cost to pay for that night and we are the ones paying for it, none of this nightmare was caused by us and none of us can comprehend why this happened.

"We sincerely hope that any justice dealt reflects the severity of the crime they committed.

"As always, we are forever grateful for the support that the people of Dunfermline and beyond have given us and our beautiful birds."

The older boy was referred to the children's reporter, while the 11-year-old was below the age of criminal responsibility, which was raised in December 2021 in Scotland from eight to 12.

A hearing can determine if formal, compulsory supervision measures were required, which could contain conditions stating where the child is to live and other conditions with which they must comply, to ensure they get the help they need.

But the volunteers won't get to know.

One of the group, Carlyn Cane, told the Press: "I don't think people realise just how heartbreaking this has been and how much it has affected us.

"It's really devastated us, the whole thing.

"The public don't know all the details. It was 10 out of 10 on the brutality scale and we had to deal with it.

"We don't want the boys named and shamed, we just want to know there have been consequences for their actions.

"It won't bring Malcolm back but where is the deterrent? You just think they've got away with it."

She continued: "It had such a life-altering effect, especially on Suzi (Ross) and I as we were there, day and night, for the first six weeks after it happened.

"There was blood everywhere and we had to clean it all up.

"Picking up Malcolm's body was horrendous. I had to put him in a plastic evidence bag and Louis was so badly injured there were several times we didn't think he was going to make it.

"We expected some kind of closure but we'll never get that."

A spokesperson told the Press: "SCRA cannot comment on individual cases as a matter of confidentiality.

"The law also only allows SCRA to provide limited information to victims where an individual, rather than an organisation, can be identified."

The volunteers faced a further ordeal trying to get Malcolm's body back.

A police officer broke the news the night before the planned burial that they wouldn't get him back after all and his remains were to be "incinerated".

Carlyn said: "We were told to get him back would need Government intervention, as the body was classed as clinical waste!

"It ended up the police officer said if we could get a licensed clinical waste specialist, they could go and collect his body.

"So we had to pay a company from Livingston to go to Edinburgh to pick his body up and we managed to go and get it from them.

"It's been hell. I don't sleep at night.

"We wrote impact statements but our feelings and everything we've been through, it doesn't matter to the SCRA. They won't even talk to us."