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"Fri, May 01 2026, 15:54:06 GMT-4" [ Login ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, 3, [4] ]

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Date Posted: 09:25:10 01/26/05 Wed
Author: Bobby Dallat
Subject: School Admin Spin Dept betrays abused pupils Ireland

School betrays abused pupils


By David Gordon
dgordon@belfasttelegraph.co.uk

25 January 2005 Belfast Telegraph

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=604445
The management of Campbell College was today accused of putting its desire to defend the school above the welfare of abused past pupils.

The unprecedented criticism came in the inquiry report on sex abuse by a 13-year-old dormitory prefect in Cabin Hill Prep.

Campbell, and its Cabin Hill junior wing, are run by the same board of governors.

Today's report said the board should have offered support to past pupils after learning in 1999 of abuse allegations dating back to 1992/93.

"Some of these pupils were later contacted by the school's solicitors, not to offer them counselling but to ask them to give evidence in relation to the legal action taken against the school," the inquiry team noted.

There was also strong criticism of an "errononeous" press release issued by school chiefs last year which "misrepresented" the seriousness of past assaults.

The report said: "The desire to exonerate the school took precedence over concerns for the current physical and emotional health of the former pupils who might have been abused when in the school's care."

In a statement today, the college's board of governors acknowledged the criticism from the inquiry panel.

It stressed that no board members, past or present, had been aware of abuse incidents until the school was contacted by the parents of one victim, described in the report as "Boy A".

"The board accepts that because of the instigation of legal action by the parents of Boy A, its handling of the allegations - as they were then perceived - became constrained and, consequently, may have, at times, appeared insensitive. That legal action is still pending," the college statement said.

It added: "The school regrets the distress of pupils which has come to light in the course of this inquiry and undertakes to ensure that the highest standards of childcare are maintained as an enduring and obvious characteristic of the school.

"The report comments favourably on the development of 'a responsive, open and effective means of investigating any incidents of bullying or suspected sexual abuse and this is confirmed in respect of the boarding department by the reports of the annual inspections since 2001'.

"The board of governors will meet shortly, as recommended by the report, to assimilate its full import and the recommendations."





Damning report on abuse school
Panel reveals assaults on six pupils


By David Gordon

25 January 2005 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=604362

An official inquiry today delivered a damning verdict on a top Belfast school's handling of abuse incidents in its boarding department.

The investigation into past events at Cabin Hill Prep, the fee-charging junior wing of Campbell College, was ordered by Education Minister Barry Gardiner.

It has heavily criticised the school's response to indecent assaults committed by a 13-year-old dorm prefect on younger pupils in the 1992/93 academic year.

In its 47-page report published today, the inquiry team said it was satisfied that at least six young boys had suffered "multiple instances of serious sexual abuse".

The report castigated past Cabin Hill head, the late Christopher Dyer, who was told about a number of the dormitory room incidents in 1993. He dealt with the matter in-house, assisted by just the school's matron and doctor.

The inquiry panel said Mr Dyer should have informed parents, provided support for the pupils and sought "appropriate professional advice" from social services and police.

"If he had done so and secured them help at the time, the impact of the abuse on the lives of a number of boys might have been reduced. His handling of the incident was wrong," it said.

A police witness told the inquiry team that the ex-head could have faced charges of withholding information, if he had still been alive.

The report stated that the school doctor had not followed professional guidance and was issued with a warning by the General Medical Council (GMC) on the matter last year.

The investigation also criticised the school management's response in 1999, after it had received a complaint from parents about past abuse - including alleged rape - inflicted on their son by the 13-year- old.

These parents had only learned in 1999 about their son's ordeal after he had tried to commit suicide.

They are now taking private legal action against the school.

Today's report said Campbell's governors have rejected responsibility for any aspects of the affair since 1999. There was a "pattern of rebuttal in the face of extensive evidence" that the assaults had occurred, it stated.

The school also insisted on publicly describing the abuse as "alleged" - a stance the inquiry panel branded "inept and insensitive".

The members of the inquiry team panel were: Douglas Osler, former Senior Chief Inspector of Education in Scotland; Mrs Lynne Peyton, ex-Regional Director with NSPCC (NI); and William Calvert, ex-principal of Dalriada School.

The past incidents at Cabin Hill Prep were previously the subject of a police investigation - as first revealed by the Belfast Telegraph in September 2001.

This resulted in the abuser receiving an adult caution after admitting that he had indecently assaulted two younger boys at the school.

The inquiry panel today stressed the need for "fuller compliance" from schools on existing child abuse guidelines.

Cabin Hill's boarding wing closed down last year. In a statement today, Campbell College acknowledged the report's criticisms and expressed regret at distress experienced by pupils.





School 'mismanaged' abuse probe
BBC TV NEWS 25th January 2005
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4205347.stm


A government report into allegations of sexual abuse against young boys at a Belfast boarding school is highly critical of the school's response.
The report, published by the Department of Education on Tuesday, catalogued a history of mismanagement.

The abuse took place in 1992 and 1993 and was carried out by one pupil at Cabin Hill preparatory boarding school.

The report said a lack of action may have harmed both the boys abused and the young abuser.

The fee-paying preparatory school on the Newtownards Road in east Belfast closed its boarding department in October 2004.

Education Minister Barry Gardiner said: "The report does not make comfortable reading and provides all who have a duty to safeguard and promote children's welfare with much to reflect on."

The inquiry team, appointed by the Department of Education last September, found there were multiple instances of serious sexual abuse affecting at least six boys.

CABIN HILL REPORT
The report provides all who have a duty to safeguard and promote children's welfare with much to reflect on

Barry Gardiner
Education Minister
Report in full (136K)


It found that one boy, who was acting as a dormitory prefect, carried out indecent assaults on fellow pupils until he was forced to confess.

The boy said to have carried out the abuse was formally cautioned by the police in 2002.

However, it was the school's handling of the matter which has been criticised by the report's authors.

Response 'inadequate'

Only a very few people were told about it, in what the report team called an inadequate response.

It said that not only should the assaulted boys have been given help, but also the perpetrator, who left the school soon after the discovery of his actions.

The incidents were not made public until May 1999.

The board of governors of Campbell College, which runs the Cabin Hill preparatory school, has acknowledged the criticism of its handling of the incidents of sexual abuse.

It said it regretted the distress of pupils which had come to light as a result of this inquiry.

However, the report said that even as late as last year, a board of governors' response to press enquiries was said to be erroneous and misleading.

The three-strong team appointed last September to examine the allegations were the former Senior Chief Inspector of Education in Scotland, Douglas Osler, the former director of the NSPCC in Northern Ireland, Lynne Peyton, and the former principal of Dalriada School, Ballymena, William Calvert.

The team looked at what child protection measures were in place at the time and the extent of the abuse.

The inquiry was held in private.



Full Report visit

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/25_01_05_ni_school_inquiry.pdf

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