Claims Made against Other Teachers

Belfast Telegraph
August 28, 2014

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/uk/claims-made-against-other-teachers-30544409.html

Morris was jailed at Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court

Two more teachers at an all-boys Catholic grammar school where its former deputy head sexually abused 10 schoolboys would "likely" have faced similar charges if they were still alive, police have said.

The revelation emerged after the Rev Alan Morris, 64, a church deacon, was jailed for nine years after he used a "cloak of discipline" to gain perverse gratification when administering corporal punishment at St Ambrose RC College in Hale Barns, Manchester, between 1973 and 1990.

An initial complaint to the police about Morris in November 2010 led to a large number of boys saying they too had suffered at his hand, while sex abuse allegations were also made against two other teachers at the school.

Other former students complained about "inappropriate use" of corporal punishment against a number of other teachers, many of who have also since died.

Ten former pupils claimed they were sexually assaulted by a Christian Brother whose holy order had run the school, while four ex-students said they were also sexually assaulted by a second teacher.

In a statement, Greater Manchester Police said: "Detectives established that both teachers were dead and had they not been would likely have been charged with serious sexual offences.

"A number of other pupils made reports to police about the inappropriate use of corporal punishment.

"Again, it was established that many of the teachers named were dead."

They added they believed there were other victims of Morris yet to come forward and appealed for them to do so.

The present governors of St Ambrose College expressed their "sincere regret" for any harm suffered but said the incidents involving Morris happened "many many years ago" and contemporary child safety policies were now in place.

Morris was said to have had a "fearsome reputation" as a strict disciplinarian and used his position of power to prey on students who were vulnerable and he knew would not report him to parents or the authorities, the court heard.

Morris was arrested on suspicion of indecent assault at his home in Rivington Road, Hale, in November 2012 following a complaint to the police.

Publicity about the investigation led to many more ex-pupils coming forward and saying they were sexually abused by him in the guise of corporal punishment, with many saying they were fondled as the discipline took place.