U.K. court rules Catholic diocese financially liable for care home abuse, not the priests who taught and worked there

The Guardian - U.K. October 26, 2010

High court rules Middlesbrough diocese was responsible for residential care home where 142 ex-pupils are suing for abuse

by Riazat Butt, religious affairs correspondent


A Roman Catholic diocese faces paying £8m in compensation after three high court judges ruled today it owned and ran an institution where 142 former pupils are suing for abuse.

Last July, the diocese of Middlesbrough went to the court of appeal seeking to overturn a judge's ruling that it was responsible for St William's Community Home, Market Weighton, Yorkshire, rather than the De La Salle Brothers, a Catholic order who taught and worked there.

It is the biggest historical abuse claim against the Roman Catholic church of England and Wales, centring around the alleged abuse of boys, aged between 10 and 16, from 1960 to 1992.

St William's provided residential care and education for boys with emotional and behavioural problems aged from 11 to 18, mainly from Yorkshire and north-east England.

Humberside police began an investigation in 2001, which focused on child abuse at the home between 1965 and 1992. The former principal, Father James Carragher, was jailed for 14 years in 2004 after admitting to abusing boys in his care.

In 2006, a group of former pupils launched a compensation claim. No hearing has yet taken place.


This article was found at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/oct/26/roman-catholic-diocese-child-abuse


SIMILAR ARTICLES:


UK court rules Catholic Church liable for decades of systemic abuse in Catholic-run home for troubled boys

Fresh allegations of historical sex crimes prompts new inquiry into Christian Brothers order in U.K.

Christian Brothers cry crocodile tears, say sorry for child abuse

Irish clergy abuse survivors criticize misleading compensation statement by Christian Brothers

Dublin clergy abuse survivor saw "toxic nexus between church & state" 40 years ago, feels vindicated by exposé of cover-up

Witnesses say they reported Catholic Bishop recently charged with child porn to police 20 years ago
 

Catholic Church found liable for abuse of Newfoundland altar boys




Australian bishop makes rare admission of church's legal liability for rape of school girls 
 

Missouri court rules that churches can be held liable for negligence in sex abuse cases

Nevada Supreme Court considers liability of churches in abuse suits; 1st Amendment not a defense in most other states

Church pays little of Ireland's child-abuse bill despite deceiving government over extent of abuse

Holding Bishops Accountable: How Lawsuits Helped the Catholic Church Confront Clergy Sexual Abuse [Book Review]