Evidence was heard from Merchiston assistant masters Maria Victoria Prini-Garcia and “Robert (QZL)”, and the read-in evidence of Merchiston assistant master “Nicola (DFX)”—AKA “Laura (RCQ)” in the SCAI’s final report—and headmaster David Spawforth.
Assistant Masters: Maria Victoria Prini-Garcia (1986-2016)
Maria Victoria Prini-Garcia (often referred to as Chispa) was a long-time teacher and Child Protection Coordinator at Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh, Scotland.
She taught Spanish at the all-boys boarding school from 1986 until her retirement in 2016, and also served as the school’s first female housemaster.
Mrs. Prini-Garcia became a key figure in the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry into Merchiston Castle School. She provided both written and oral witness statements in 2022 regarding the school’s historical child protection procedures and her tenure there.




