Oxford dean ‘close to suicide’ after ‘coup’ to oust him

A FORMER Oxford college dean has revealed the “relentless coup” to oust him as head of Christ Church left him at “breaking point” and close to suicide.

After leaving the college in the last week of April, the Very Rev Prof Martyn Percy said he was turned into “public enemy number one” during his fouryear battle with Oxford dons.

The Very Rev Percy relinquished his position and departed with a £1.2 million payout from Christ Church, but not before the “Orwellian nightmare” left him “close” to suicide.

He told The Times Magazine: “I really had a pretty serious breakdown with this … I came close … We had clergy and victims of abuse who’ve gone through this Orwellian nightmare with church investigations and they’ve taken their own lives and I can understand that.”

The dons had hit him with claims of scandalous behaviour, unsound judgment, mental incapacity and sexual harassment. He said: “I was devastated because I couldn’t think how [trying] to raise awareness about proper process, accountability, [organisation] could be construed as [immoral].”

The Very Rev Percy agreed to step down following a mediation process that concluded in February. Oxford and Christ Church were asked for comment.