Church of England failed to stop former Dean of Manchester abusing children, says report

By Wayne Ankers
Manchester Evening News
October 22, 2014

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/church-england-failed-stop-former-7980567

Manchester Cathedral

Judge Sally Cahill

The Church of England failed to ensure children were not abused by a former dean of Manchester, a report has found.

Claims of sex abuse by the late Robert Waddington, formerly Dean of Manchester, were first made in 1999 but the report says there were ‘systematic failures’ in the handling of the allegations.

And a former Archbishop of York Lord Hope of Thornes has been accused of failing to act on information he was given.

The report, by Judge Sally Cahill QC, found that: “Our conclusion, having heard his (Lord Hope’s) evidence is that his concern for the welfare of Robert Waddington seems to have been paramount in his response to these allegations.”

Lord Hope has said he is 'disappointed' that the report raised concerns about how the cases were handled and denied that there was a cover-up.

Lord Hope has denied suggestions that he covered up allegations against Waddington, who died from cancer in 2007.

He said: “I have maintained throughout my career that any allegation of abuse made against anyone connected to the Church must be dealt with professionally and swiftly.

“Accordingly, I am obviously disappointed that this inquiry has raised concerns about how the two cases in questions were dealt with during my time at Bishopthorpe (Palace - seat of the archbishop of York).”

Lord Hope said that when allegations were reported to him 15 and 12 years ago, they were 'unspecific' and he has never been told the full details.

He said there was no recommendation at that time that allegations should be reported to the police and he was told the complainant would not talk to officers.

The former archbishop withdrew Waddington’s permission to act as a priest in 2004.

He said: “Last May, in some of the reporting, it was suggested that there had been some cover-up by me.

“This report makes clear that not applying the policy is not the same as a cover-up.

“Hindsight is, of course, a wonderful thing.

“If all that has been learned by organisations and the public about child abuse in the last 15 years had been known in 1999 and 2004, I would certainly have acted differently.”

Lord Hope added: “If either of the two persons concerned feel in the light of this report they have been denied the justice they deserve, then, on behalf of the Church, I offer my personal and profound apology.

“I genuinely believed that any complaints were being adequately dealt with by the respective dioceses in which they were alleged to have happened.”

One of Waddington’s victims said his abuser was a 'very clever guy'.

Describing how he was groomed, he said: “It would progress to picking me up, go to his house, stay over and then stay in his room and so on.

“Over a period of time, little by little, very strategic planning, very clever guy, peeling away his victim ... not just an opportunity - take it, it’s very much insidious, planning and grooming, very clever.”

Responding to the report, he said: “I want no other child, person, to go through what I have gone through.

“I have been through the full range of emotions - that’s terrible, disgraceful. I should have been enjoying life, getting on with it - my abuse has stopped me doing that.”

Current Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu said: “I have already been in contact with those who gave evidence to the inquiry regarding their alleged abuse by Robert Waddington.

“As I have said to them, I am deeply ashamed that the Church was not vigilant enough to ensure that these things did not happen, failing both to watch and to act, where children were at serious risk.”

The archbishop said he accepted the report’s conclusion that 'irrespective of policies in force, there was a systemic failure'.

He said: “Although the report notes no one has come forward to say they were abused by Robert Waddington after the first complaint was made in 1999, what stands out is that between 1999 and 2004 those in senior positions responsible for taking decisions in these matters were ‘not qualified or sufficiently experienced in child protection’.”