142 claims misbruik 10-16 jarigen. "Dit ging niet over geld". Roman Catholic diocese facing £8m compensation bill over abuse.

A children's home abuse victim who is eligible for part of a £8m compensation payout today insisted that 'it was never about the money'.

Rape victim Graham Baverstock spoke out after a judge ruled that the Roman Catholic Middlesbrough Diocese was responsible for running an East Riding children's home where 142 boys were abused.

The boys were sexually assaulted at St William's Community Home in Market Weighton between 1972 and 1990 in one of the country's biggest abuse cases.

At least 20 of the victims are now living in Hull.

A judge at Leeds Crown Court has ruled the Roman Catholic Middlesbrough Diocese was responsible for the home rather than the De La Salle Brothers, a Catholic order of lay teachers, who taught at it.
Now the 142 victims can finally seek an estimated £8m in damages from the church.

But Mr Baverstock, from Bridlington, told the Mail that those claiming are primarily seeking justice.

The 51-year-old said: "It is not all about compensation. It's about what they did to us. We were children and they subjected us to sustained physical sexual abuse and beatings. They neglected and traumatised us.

"I'm delighted the court has recognised the diocese was responsible.
"It should be ashamed for putting the victims through the most oppressive regime of brutality and sexual abuse.
"Not once have we had an apology. They have treated us with contempt.

"If there are more victims out there I urge them to come forward. There is no need to be scared any more."

Brother James Carragher, now 74, abused boys at the home between 1968 to 1990. He is serving a prison sentence.

Mr Baverstock claims he was raped by Carragher in 1973.


Middlesbrough Diocese liable for payouts for abuse of children at St William’s Community Home, Market Weighton
5th November 2009
By Lucy Richardson
The Northern Echo

...
There are 142 alleged victims of sexual and physical abuse from St William’s Community Home, in Market Weighton, near York, who could now seek damages from the Middlesbrough Diocese.

It would result in the biggest historical abuse claim against the Catholic church in England.

Responsibility for the children’s home lies with the diocese, not a Catholic order of lay teachers, the De La Salle Brothers, Judge Simon Hawkesworth ruled at Leeds Crown Court on Tuesday.

Middlesbrough diocese covers an area of 4,000 sq kilometres spanning Teesside, north Yorkshire and the East Riding of Yorkshire, and the cities of York and Hull.

Dr Jim Whiston, diocese company secretary, said the bishops and the trustees were very disappointed with the decision.

“We understand our legal advisors are considering an appeal and we, therefore, intend to make no further comment at this time,” he said.

The case centres around the alleged systematic abuse of boys between ten and 16 from 1960 to 1992.

The home had taken in boys referred from local authorities, mainly from Yorkshire and the North-East.

About 2,000 children and 500 staff attended the home over the 30-year period.

About 70 per cent of the claims involve sexual abuse, some alleging rape.

Although the De La Salle Brothers were in senior positions, Judge Hawkesworth found that they were not employed by the lay order and it was the diocese that had the power to appoint staff.

Brother Aidan Kilty, Provincial of the De La Salle Brothers, said: “It has always been our understanding that the De La Salle Brothers were, neither in law, nor in practice, the responsible management of St William. This has now been confirmed by the judgement of the High Court.”

David Greenwood, who is representing many of the former residents, said he was delighted for the claimants that a judgement had finally been secured.

“It has been a long battle with all the organisations responsible for the home.

“They have used every argument possible to resist the case and I am hopeful that the Middlesbrough Catholic diocese will consider settling the cases now.”


Ruth Gledhill, Religion Correspondent
The Times
November 5, 2009

A Roman Catholic diocese could be forced to pay up to £8 million in compensation after a judge ruled that it was liable for running a home at the centre of a child abuse scandal.

The case could last at least one more year, however, because the diocese was given leave to appeal.

The High Court ruling opened the door for 142 people alleging sexual and physical abuse to seek damages from Middlesbrough diocese in what could turn out to be the biggest historical abuse claim against the Catholic Church in the country so far.

After untangling the complex management history of St William’s Community Home in Market Weighton, East Riding, Judge Hawkesworth, QC, decided that responsibility fell on the diocese rather than the De La Salle Brothers, an order of lay teachers.

The case concerns alleged systematic abuse of children at the care home from 1960 until 1992 when it closed. St William’s took emotionally and behaviourally disturbed boys, aged 10 to 16, referred by councils largely from Yorkshire and the North East.

Jordans solicitors, based in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, took on the case six years ago after an investigation by Humberside Police into the home’s former headmaster, Brother James Carragher. He was jailed for 14 years after being convicted of abusing boys at the home. The case also includes claims against other staff. About 2,000 children and 500 staff were at the home during the 32 years in question.

David Greenwood, the claimants’ solicitor, said: “It has been a long battle. They have used every argument possible to resist the case and I am hopeful that the Middlesbrough Catholic diocese will consider settling the cases now. There are a lot of homes such as St William’s which were staffed by members of religious organisations. These organisations should not be allowed to escape responsibility for their staff.”

Jim Whiston, for the diocese, said: “We are disappointed with the verdict. Our legal advisers are looking at an appeal.”

At the High Court in Leeds the judge granted leave to appeal. The diocese is expected to contend that De La Salle should be liable. The order, however, says the diocese had management responsibility.