Bedfordshire on Sunday
January 2, 2010
http://www.bedfordshire-news.co.uk/bedsonsunday-news/displayarticle.asp?id=474188
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| Father John Ryan |
Calls for the Catholic Church to apologise for abuse claims have fallen on deaf ears.
Residents of a former boys home in Shefford have long claimed they suffered abuse but, while paying out damages in two instances, the church has never admitted to doing anything wrong.
The Catholic Church and the Pope is apologising after a report found church leaders covered up child abuse in Dublin for decades.
The Pope will write a pastoral letter to the Irish people about sexual abuse and the Vatican’s response to the crisis.
‘The Holy Father was deeply disturbed and distressed by its contents,’ the Vatican statement said.
‘He wishes once more to express his profound regret at the actions of some members of the clergy who have betrayed their solemn promises to God, as well as the trust placed in them by the victims and their families, and by society at large.’
Yet the Northampton Diocese has been silent over abuse claims at the former St Francis Boys Home, Shefford.
Two former residents of the home have already won substantial damages over claims of sexual abuse.
Tony Walsh, 57, was at St Francis Boys Home, Shefford between 1957 and 1963.
Two years ago another former resident, Damian Chittock, won more than ?30,000 in an out-of-court settlement. Mr Walsh has won an undisclosed amount, again from an out-of-court settlement.
St Francis Boys Home was closed in the mid 1970s. Police began investigating claims of physical and sexual abuse there in 2002, following a two-year investigation by Bedfordshire on Sunday.
Mr Walsh said: “They have not said sorry. I was sexually abused at the home. I am trying to write a book on my experience but the nightmares keep coming back. I would have preferred to have gone to court but the lawyers advised me to take the settlement.”
He said it was common for priests to come into the dormitory at night and kick the foot of one bed, where the boy would then be led off to their room.
Damning inspection reports, prepared before the home closed, criticised one priest for failing to immediately insist on police action after a boy claimed he was molested by an employer during a trip.
The home, which has since been demolished, was run as part of the St Francis Children’s Society by the Catholic Northampton Diocese and most of the teachers and carers were priests or monks.
The first case, where former resident Damian Chittock won ?37,000, against the home specifically named Father John Ryan in the writ.
Father Ryan died in 2008.
Damien Chittock said: “It would be nice if they would just say sorry.
We recognise the world has moved on but some of us need closure and that means an apology. I hope the church is big enough to do that. It is interesting that there was a report in Ireland but there has not been one in the UK, although there are strong Irish connections with the Catholic priesthood in this country.”
Despite repeated attempts, no-one at the Northampton Diocese returned our calls.
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