Church covers up sex crimes

The media reports that four archbishops and the Irish police have been accusing of covering up sex crimes against children, perpetrated by Catholic priests. Apparently hundreds of crimes against defenceless children were not reported.

Abuse by Catholic clergy has long been under the spotlight in the United Kingdom. Malcolm Johnson & Co. recently acted for a group of victims, who were abused by the same priest between the mid sixties and late nineties. There was substantial evidence that the Order that employed him, knew of his activities from an early stage.

The recent case of Raggett v The Society of Jesus Trust and Others [2009] EWHC 909 (QB) is one example. The Claimant was born in 1958 and 50 years old at the time of trial. He was claiming damages for sexual abuse and assaulted allegedly  committed on him by a teacher, Father Spencer at Preston Catholic College in Lancashire where he was a pupil from 1969 to 1976. Father Spencer would ask the Claimant to strip naked and photograph him. This then progressed to indecent assaults, and digital penetration. Father Spencer would visit the Claimant at home and take him out to football matches, where again he would surreptitiously abuse him. As a result of Father Spencer’s attentions, he was called his “pet” or “bum boy.” Eleven witnesses (who were the Claimant’s contemporaries) gave evidence in support of his claim.