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	Roman Catholic Diocese of Middlesbrough Can Appeal Abuse Case Payout Ruling By Andy Passant Evening Gazette February 23, 2011 http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/2011/02/23/roman-catholic-diocese-of-middlesbrough-can-appeal-abuse-case-payout-ruling-84229-28214457/ JUSTICE for dozens of alleged child sex abuse victims from Teesside has been delayed once again. The Supreme Court has allowed an appeal by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Middlesbrough, which faces a potential compensation bill running into millions of pounds. The diocese hopes to overturn a Court of Appeal judgment which found it solely liable for the management of a children's home at the centre of an abuse scandal. More than 150 former pupils are suing for an estimated £8m in compensation and costs, claiming they suffered sexual and physical abuse at the home. They include 26 people from Teesside. The abuse is alleged to have taken place over a 30-year period at St William's in Market Weighton, East Yorkshire. The compensation claims revolve around the abuse of boys aged between 10 and 16 between 1960 and 1992. One of the alleged victims, now a married dad living in Middlesbrough, said the delays were "annoying" and "frustrating". The unemployed father-of-four said he was in the home for two years from the age of 14 in the 1980s. Abuse could be both sexual and physical, he said. "It was terrible. You try to hide it and put it away but it is always there," he said. But he said having his own family now kept him strong. He had been sent to St William's from a children's home in Middlesbrough. "Even today it puzzles me why I ended up there," he said. He said he still suffered flashbacks and accused the Catholic Church of "dragging its feet". St William's, which provided residential care and education for boys, has since closed. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Middlesbrough has argued that the De La Salle Brotherhood, a Catholic order of lay teachers, should take some responsibility for the alleged abuse. The Court of Appeal decided that the diocese was solely responsible for compensating victims. But the Supreme Court has now allowed the diocese to appeal. Claimants have already faced a number of delays in the long-running legal saga. But the latest twist means they could now have to wait up to a year before a final decision is made. Claims were first launched seven years ago when the home's former principal, Brother James Carragher, was jailed for 14 years in 2004 for abusing boys. The legal action includes abuse claims involving Carragher but also claims against other staff. Carragher is the only member of staff to have been convicted of sexual or physical abuse at St William's. David Greenwood, of Jordans Solicitors in Wakefield, acts on behalf of 158 victims of alleged abuse in this case, including the 26 Teessiders. He said he was undeterred by the appeal. He said: "The Supreme Court obviously feels this case is of major importance. "The Catholic Church has for years tried to escape liability for its priests and members and I hope this case will decide the issues once and for all." A Middlesbrough Diocese spokesman said: "The diocese looks forward to the adjudication of the Supreme Court and is pleased the appeal has been granted."
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