A PRIEST at a former Catholic Boys’ home was first reported for abusing the children in 1964.

Police are currently investigating many claims of sexual and physical abuse at the St Francis Home for Boys, Shefford, which closed in 1973, and announced this week that a third suspect has been identified.

One of the reasons the home was closed is that inspectors at the time were concerned about the way it was being run.

Tony Walsh, now 66, was at the home from 1955-1963. Tony says he was beaten and sexually abused on a weekly, sometimes daily basis. He suffers from a perforated eardrum and a spinal injury as a consequence. But the physical scars are not the worst. Tony said: “Father Ryan beat me up every week. He would hit me until blood was coming from my head, my ears, my nose, mouth. He would also call me into his room and, for the want of a better term, play with me.