Altrincham school suspends staff over Alan Morris abuse allegations

By Matthew Taylor
Messenger
November 10, 2014

http://www.messengernewspapers.co.uk/news/11591548.Altrincham_school_suspends_staff_over_Alan_Morris_abuse_allegations/

Alan Morris, left, outside court in Manchester

AN Altrincham school has suspended two members of staff over allegations they knew about the sexual abuse carried out by disgraced former teacher, Alan Morris.

Morris, 64, of Rivington Road, Hale, was jailed for nine years in August after being found guilty of committing a string of sexual offences at St Ambrose Catholic College, Hale Barns.

The former Chemistry and RE teacher was convicted of 19 offences of indecent assault and inciting a child to perform an act of gross indecency.

The offences were committed against ten boys between 1973 and 1990.

On Friday, a St Ambrose College spokesman said: “Following allegations from a former pupil that two members of staff may have been aware of Alan Morris's activities, on the advice of the police and local authority the school has suspended those two members of staff pending an independent inquiry.”

Earlier this year, Minshull Street Crown Court judge, Timothy Mort, concluded that Morris had had 'shamefully used' his victims for his own sexual gratification.

The court heard that Morris joined the then Christian Brothers private school straight out of university and quickly established himself as the head of discipline, later becoming deputy head.

He used his position of authority as a 'cloak' to make inappropriate use of corporal punishment, often repeatedly targeting specific individuals.

Numerous witnesses, many of whom were at the school during different decades, described Morris taking them into isolated areas of the school because they needed to be 'chastised', before he would hit them with various implements or his own hand.

At the same time, he would inappropriately touch and fondle his victims, taking perverse enjoyment from it.

One group of boys who Morris said were 'making too much noise', were made to hit each other as punishment, while Morris filmed and took photographs.

Morris was a deacon with Holy Angels Church, Hale Barns, at the time of his arrest and was subsequently withdrawn from active ministry with the Diocese of Shrewsbury.