Pupils ‘still at risk of abuse’ at top Catholic schools

PUPILS at Roman Catholic schools could still be at risk of sexual abuse despite years of work to remove predators and improve child safeguarding, an inquiry heard yesterday.

The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse is examining paedophilia among Benedictine monks and failures to protect children.

It is focusing on offenders who targeted pupils at two Catholic public schools, Ampleforth in North Yorkshire and Downside in Somerset, over many decades.

Yesterday, counsel to the inquiry Riel Karmy- Jones QC told the hearing in London that the recorded allegations ‘go back many years ... and they continue into the present day’.

She added: ‘It may be that during the course of evidence and the submissions to come there is some acceptance of failings.

‘But concerns remain and you are likely to hear evidence that suggests safeguarding problems are still ongoing in some instances, and with the inevitable result that children may remain at risk.’

A ‘wide spectrum of behaviour’, ranging from rape to voyeuristic beatings, was inflicted on pupils over many years, the inquiry heard. There were a number of reasons for coverups, including families being pressured not to report assaults, offenders being shifted to different establishments, and complaints simply being ignored.

Convicted predators at the two schools include David Lowe, who taught at Ampleforth and was jailed for ten years in 2015 for 15 indecent assaults on boys aged under 14.

Lawyer Richard Scorer, who represents 27 victims, said some Catholic Church schools concealed offending to protect their reputation.

Many rely on private school fees to survive and cannot risk exposing misconduct, turning schools into ‘honeypots where multiple offenders operate’, he said.

‘The reputational pressures, the cultural and theological factors which led to abuse being covered up in Catholic institutions have not gone away,’ he told the hearing. ‘They remain as powerful as ever.’

The Roman Catholic Church is one of 13 strands involved in British public life being scrutinised for child safety failings by the inquiry.

The current round of hearings will continue until December 15.