Catholic diocese loses school abuse appeal

The Court of Appeal has upheld a decision that a Catholic diocese should be held liable for abuse which occurred at the former boys school. The abuse in question is claimed to have taken place between 1960 and 1992 at St Williams in Market Weighton, East Yorkshire. A compensation claim from 158 ex pupils valued at 8m has been brought against Middlesbrough Diocese. The appeal court upheld a ruling which stated the De La Salle Brotherhood which provided the school with teachers at the time, had no legal responsibility. The compensation claim for 8m was submitted in 2004. The central point of this case revolves around the systematic abuse of boys aged between 10 and 16 at the school, which closed in 1992. The solicitor in charge of presenting the group of pupils is pleased claims can now be processed; he said I hope that the Roman Catholic Diocese of Middlesbrough and its representatives will work with me constructively to achieve settlements for all these deserving claimants. One of the former principals of the school, James Carragher was jailed for 14 years in 2004; this was after he was found guilty of abusing boys between 1969 and 1989. The diocese has stated that it may make a further appeal to the Supreme Court, this due to there remain fundamental issues of law which require clarification and are of public interest.