Abused Man Makes Damages Bid, ITV, May 5, 2009

Abused Man Makes Damages Bid

ITV
May 5, 2009

http://www.itv.com/News/Articles/Abused-man-makes-damages-bid-931790323.html

A former City lawyer who has blamed his failed career, drink problem and marriage breakdown on sexual abuse by a Catholic priest has won the right to claim for damages.

Patrick Raggett claimed that he was subjected to years of "insidious" abuse by Father Michael Spencer, a teacher at Preston Catholic College in Lancashire.

He had a breakdown in 2005 after years of problems and through therapy linked these to his abusive childhood.

He has now been given the go ahead to sue for ?5 million in damages after a High Court judge accepted Mr Raggett's evidence that he had been abused by Father Spencer who died in 2000 aged 76.

The governors of the college, which closed in 1978, deny liability and say that, even if the abuse occurred, the case could not proceed as it was brought years outside the legal time limit.

Mr Raggett, 50, of west London, told London's High Court that, while he was naked, the priest measured him "to chart his growth", filmed him performing exercises, photographed him and touched him inappropriately.

Mr Raggett said after the hearing: "The most important aspect of this trial is that the people who allowed this to happen - and who were quite happy to see it swept under the carpet - have been held responsible at last.

"This is not a case where I have simply sought revenge after a long time. Full awareness of the damaging effects of the sustained sexual abuse only surfaced in April 2005.

"I want to urge others who are being or who were similarly mistreated to come forward. The Jesuit Order, the Catholic Church generally, is still not accepting legal and moral responsibility for the dark virus of abuse in the way it should."

Counsel said: "At no time before that date did he attribute his disabilities to Father Michael Spencer's really outrageous and disreputable behaviour and there is no reason why he should - this was not a violent or painful rape or assault; there was no overt aggressiveness on the part of the priest."