HUNDREDS of men who claim to have been abused at a notorious children's home could have their compensation claims settled next year. A number of trials will be heard next year to determine how much compensation the men abused at the St William's home in Market Weighton will receive.
More than 200 men are suing the Roman Catholic Diocese of Middlesbrough and the De La Salle Brotherhood, who ran the home before in closed in 1992.
Judge Mark Gosnell has ruled that several lead cases will be heard next year at the High Court in Leeds, which should influence the amount of compensation most men will receive.
Christine Sands, head of personal injury at Jordans Solicitors, said: "The ruling is positive news for all of those affected by the abuse at St William's.
"This litigation has been ongoing for many years and we are hopeful now that the trials listed will result in meaningful settlements for those affected, enabling all parties to have some form of closure."
Lawyers say they hope the ruling will mean many claims can be settled before the trials begin in May next year.
There has been a long legal battle involving the compensation claims after the Catholic Church denied it was responsible.
However, the Supreme Court ruled last year that both the church and the Brothers are liable to pay compensation.
One of the men involved in the claim said: "It has been dragged out for so long now. It has never been about the money for me, I just want them to admit this all happened and say sorry.
"I was 14 when I started there and it all happened within the first few months. The brother would call me into his office after assembly.
"Now, there isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about it. This case has raked it all back up again.
"It has been going on for such a long time and several of the men who have been part of this claim have already died.
"I wonder how many more of us will be dead by the time these cases come around."
Prosecutors are still considering whether to bring criminal charges against several former members of staff at the home.
The Crown Prosecution Service was given files against six members of staff last year after the conclusion of a two-and-a-half-year investigation.
It was the third police inquiry into sex abuse at the home. Officers spoke to 94 alleged victims of abuse and questioned 16 former members of staff.
Only one person jailed for abuse
DESPITE years of claims of abuse at the St William's home, only one person has ever been jailed. Father James Carragher, a former principal at the home, is the only person to have been convicted of sexually abusing pupils.
Carragher was jailed in 1993 for seven years. An investigation in 2001 into St William's saw Carragher sentenced to a further 14 years in prison after being found guilty of seven counts of buggery and 14 counts of indecent assault against 22 boys.
