Well would you believe it, I was halfway through reading my e-mails this morning when the following dropped onto the screen. A complaint from a gallant but obviously very young person who is a newly appointed governor of St Bede’s College, one of a galaxy of stars thrown onto the stage in recent months to help sweep away the chaos and despondency the school has sunk into.
******** (removed) is the scribe’s name and she seems to have got the bit between her teeth and is trying to make a name for herself like all young nag’s do and she seems to be telling me off. She has written to our hosting company asking peevishly for them to remove my blog from the internet.
Email we received:
We’ve received the following email via our abuse helpdesk from a contact at St Bede’s college in Manchester making claims regarding potentially libellous content on a site hosted by yourselves. Could you please investigate and respond to the sender?
Thanks in advance,
From: ********* [mailto:******@stbedescollege.co.uk]
Sent: 10 February 2014 15:37
To: Abuse Helpdesk
Subject: re: Paul Malpas Blog
Good afternoon
I am parent governor at St Bede’s College in Manchester. It is an independent co-ed school in Whalley Range for children aged 3-18 years. The school is currently dealing with adverse publicity over pupil abuse which is alleged to taken place in the 1950’s/60’s (ie. before any of us were born).
A former pupil who is now retired has been blogging about this issue for a few years and demanding litigation / compensation for victims – the upshot of which is that a huge US law firm are planning to sue current governors over these issues (indeed you may have seen them on the news). The blog has been read by current pupils – some of whom have posted comments defending the school because it is a totally different place now.
The blog www.paulmalpas.com (which is hosted by your hosting company) has contained libellous comments for the past couple of years but in recent weeks has started to use far more offensive / racist language. However, yesterday the content became a lot more explicit – it describes in graphic detail the alleged rape of a 12 year old boy in the 1950’s which is of course horrific, but is not something which I want to read associated with the school as it is now. It is extremely upsetting and should definitely have an 18+ filter. We have a potential safeguarding / child protection issue because current pupils (aged 3-18) could easily read it. The blog is also easily found on Google (the man’s daughter runs a web optimisation company and so has ensured that is ranked highly in any search of the school name).
I am emailing to ask that you please stop hosting this site as soon as possible. I asked ***** ********* at ******* for some advise and he suggested that I contact you directly. Whilst I appreciate that it is not a permanent solution at least we can reduce the risk of pupils reading this particular post. We have informed both the Irish Police and GMP and they are both attempting to deal with this matter to support the school.
The information we know about the site is as follows:
(withheld)
My Reply
Well I would just like to comment if I may “one of the many st bedes Governers” and I address these comments to the interested readers and not you dear girl.
Para 1. Note immediately she is introducing herself as a nymphet, having been born sometime after the 1960s.
Para 2. I have been blogging on this subject of pupil abuse at St Bede’s since 2010 but never that I know of, have demanded litigation/compensation for victims although I do know there are a couple of law suits on the subject pending.
Para 3. If I have ever posted libellous content I would like to know and if she knew her subject, she should have written to me and I would certainly consider removing it, but one woman’s libelous content is often just a bag of shite. I agree that to some my blog could be offensive, it is meant to be so to those implicated but it was never racist but in one case might have been politically incorrect but I am not one for politics.
As I described in my posting of 9th February 2014, my blog went into graphic detail to shake the reader from their complacency into reality and not let the described depravity be softened by pretty language. If an 18+ filter is needed for such reality it is up to the parents and college to do this on their computers. Our hosting company have no power in that matter at all.
Certainly my daughter, who does not run a web optimisation company has never interfered or took any part in my blog except to comment occasionally. It is ranking highly because many people are interested in the obvious deterioration in the school and the blog is widely read. My daughter in fact went to St Bede’s and had a great time there and received a very good education before going on to Oxford University. She often praises her teachers but at the same time recognises the obvious faults in the management system under John Byrne when she was there in the 1980s and 90s which have multiplied under the present management.
The potential safeguarding situation Helen talks of is something within her control, the bigger safeguarding issue has been pointed out to the school by the Independent Schools Inspectorate and they have said in their report how badly the management have performed on this score. It is that that should be concentrated on, not my blog.
Para 4. It is a lot more difficult to take a blog down than young Helen thinks and there are far worse things on the internet than my postings. She could start by trying to take down the easily accessible porn sites or perhaps she does not mind her little kids viewing those.
The threat of Garda and GMP is just what it is, a bag of shite. We know these boys in blue have become a bunch of illiterate thugs these days, eg Barton Moss but they have more to do than come round for a cup of tea at my house. Does she think she is a school ma’am castigating her pupils, the silly woman.
So “one of the many st bedes Governers”, go south with your comments. If you see libel somewhere show me and I will be happy to consider removing it. Otherwise, shut up. Better still, concentrate on putting right the obvious short-comings at Bede’s before you go round trying to break my windows.
Now the board of it looks like 17 governors, two or three for every day of the week, have been sworn in and lawyers abound, so why do they not write to me in the first instance instead of this stupid woman. This e-mail from st bedes has been badly written, poorly composed and shockingly thought out which is all you can expect from modern day St Bede’s.
Superb response Paul.
I’ll let my friends know what an entertaining and informative blog you write.
I know lots of Bedians that would be interested.
Oh dear,
I hear the cage being rattled on Alexandra Road South……
Or is the wailing of banshees
Touche !! What a more thoughtful response .sad to see that spelling standards are dropping . Phil from the colonies . I expect an invasion from the Australian federal police , not , for this reference .
“Adverse publicity”? How THICK are these people? “Don’t give them your name,Pike!” (Does she know an ex-head boy Barrister?).
A personal response to Ms West:
Dear Ms West,
I have read that, in your role as School Governor at St Bede’s, you seek to restrict the publication of Mr Malpas’ blog. Your concerns as to the safeguarding of children and the adult nature of the subjects discussed in the blog are well placed. The form that a discourse takes, determines much about the outcome and it would be quite wrong if the concerns raised could not be shared with current pupils in the open way they were in the 1960’s when I was day boy, my brother was a border and teachers and governors were (and I hope some remain) family friends and acquaintances.
So I would advise – read on dear students. Perhaps this does all look like issues long ago and far away. But an old boy would advise you of this. Private education is there to buy you privilege . The quick summary is British Navy – rum, sodomy and the lash – that’s how to build an empire. They wanted their boys tough, tough enough to grab those glittering prizes. They promise the same for you. The smart, the gifted and the seriously connected inherit the spoils. The vulnerable, isolated and dependent are the grist to their mill. Got it yet? Yes there is safeguarding, but is there community or is there hierarchy?
Community interests would dictate a little humility and public soul-searching by the clergy as where the school and the diocese need to start. In their own way, perhaps there has been an attempt at this, and if so, all the better for that. But whilst I agree with you that the anatomical details of child sodomy are shocking, I would advise that I was armed with the basic information about child abuse as an altar-boy at seven (men will touch-you-up and here’s the names around here), so I am not so sure that teenagers should necessarily be denied access to a victim’s account. They have the maturity to judge in my view.
Surely any resolution must reflect that the diocese and the wider church have been chasing these issues since time immemorial. However, no incriminating records will have been kept and at all stages the standing of the church seems to have been paramount in their deliberations. Nevertheless, there are easily enough clergy, still around from the time, to name names and tell why it couldn’t happen now. Just one small act of contrition.
As a governor you should know who knew what and when. When you do, I would encourage you to publish it.
(Name withheld for private reasons)
with apologies
To Old Bedian:
As no doubt you were a contemporary of myself (full sentence served, 1964-71, no remission), we are both agreed that things have moved on since our time. I also concur with your sentiments on the other matters you raised. Fat chance I’d suggest though, of Bede’s willingly publishing anything remotely detrimental to itself.
Unfortunately for Bede’s and sexual abuse, they didn’t move on quickly enough, and once TD had departed, along a few years later came Not So Rev Billy Green, acting for years with impunity. This, to a reasonably minded person, together with other deceased priests who were complicit in abuse, would indicate a systematic problem at the Alma Mater for nigh on half a century. This is a fact, also someone altering Wikipedia listings in a vain attempt to re-write history just won’t do either. Fortunately Bede’s Wikipedia listing is now back to its more truthful content i.e. detailing the abuse.
It’s this problem that Bede’s do not want highlighting, together with the imminent court cases. I’m afraid the genie is out of the bottle, no amount of whitewash can cover over what should be written on the outside walls of the College:
‘Paedos reigned with impunity here for half a century. We did nothing about it, also we tried to cover it up.’
Let’s face it, the exposure (pardon the expression) of Billy Green as a self-confessed paedophile has done untold damage to the place, far more than any blog by Paul Malpas or anyone else could. Also The Sins of the Fathers (literally) are about to be visited shortly on the College in court, the legal phrase ‘Vicarious Liability’ comes to mind.
Instead of worrying about the blog, Ms West should devote herself (along with other of the hierarchy) to sorting out the following, pronto:-
How can the College come to some compromise agreement to prevent the abuse case coming to court and causing even more damage to the College’s reputation?
How can the people who caused this God-awful situation be removed from their positions and replaced by someone who is at least to some degree competent?
How can the College arrest the alarming rate at which the numbers on the College roll are falling? Part-time student footballers are not the answer to increasing the scholastic reputation of a supposed seat of learning.
In view of the current turmoil at the place, I’d suggest Paul Malpas and other critics (BBC, Sunday Times, though not currently note, the MEN) should be the least of the College’s problem.
I don’t think any rational person could deem this posting as anything other than constructive, addressing the problems the Old Place faces. What happens from now on, it’s all in the hands of the College itself.
OK name with-held; during my time in the place (53-54) I think I had all those qualities; I was smart, gifted, socially connected, vulnerable and dependent. My parents I think, believed that Bedes would recognise and help me to develop my potential.
If I was a governor now, I would be curious about the quality of record-keeping. For example, from the point of entry, how many students moved onto Higher Education? Is there a column graph showing intake at 11 years and exits at 18 years…and year by year. If I was a governor concerned about past issues, this information could help me to understand the ethos.
Also, if I was a Governor today, I would be interested to know when a particular headteacher confronted the sexual and physical abuse by staff that pervaded the place when I was a student.The conforntation surely has to be a matter of record, dross despatched and new regime installed.
Andy Cathcart (53-54)
Paul, tell her that only a fool starts a fight that (s)he has no chance of winning.
You could also remind her of what, I understand, was one of Dennis Healey’s favourite maxims: “If you are in a hole, stop digging.”.
You don’t have to look hard to find the libelous material Paul. Printing things as fact when they most definitely are not can be libelous. You have libeled yourself in many recent posts and by printing defamatory remarks by other people in the comments section, as you run the site. It’s your responsibility to filter what you write, not for people to point it out to you.
Paul, the blog to which ma west refers was uncomfortable to read and quite explicit. Though I’m sure this was intentional and for good reason. Perhaps a disclaimer at the start would have been a good idea tho. Just a thought, not a criticism.
That should have said ms west of course
So WTF is Helen West? Still using the training wheels on her bike?
Paul told my story after holding back for nearly three years. Maybe we should have published it three years ago. Things might have happened by now, instead of the endless faffing around with Bede’s thinking the old adage ” Ignore it and it will go away”.
Well Mzzzzz West, if the truth is hurting all well and good.
St Bede’s fucked up my life well and truly and your piss weak moaning ain’t gonna get you anywhere.
The pathetic MEN should have had my story and others on their front pages for 3 years now!
What do the miserable twats do? Hide under their frigging desks.
A suggestion Mzzzzzzzzz West.
Walk up the stairs to the old office/study of Tommy Duggan and spend a hour or so reflecting in its confines.
That room still stinks of the evil abusive acts performed on countless young victims like me.
I was a mere 10 years old when that Monster attacked me for the first time.
Of course that was in 1950!
Oh shit! I hear you say Mzzzz West, but that was so long ago let’s forget all about it, eh what!
I was in Bede’s playground for the first time since 1954, in 2010 along with Paul and some others.
The frigging EVIL, even just standing in the playground, still permeated the entire site.
So Mzzzz West get off your high horse and back on your trike and piss off!
Can I ask Paul, did Andrew Cathcart have a brother who started at Bede’s the same time as me, September 1950?
To Peter:
The simple explanation regarding Ms West is that some people are simply so stupid they don’t get the point. By the way, five days and counting re my e-mail to the Editor of the MEN as to the total absence of Bede’s from the paper, when it was deemed to be newsworthy enough for the BBC and Sunday Times.
To James J:
Still anonymous eh? And exactly how do you personally know that certain statements are untrue? By your own admission, you seem to know sweet F. A. about Bede’s (unlike other people posting here), can you factually contradict (with anything resembling proof) anything said regarding Bede’s. You should get real, for years Bede’s has been covering up any misdeeds, be it sexual abuse, knowing about drug dealing in the school and failure to report it to the police, defenestration of a headmaster, then lying about his reasons for leaving, part-time student apprentices passing an entrance exam (really? – come on,even that should stretch even your naivete past breaking point).
The list of Bede’s cover-ups is endless, unfortunately for them in some cases the truth eventually finds its way out. There are sufficient whistle blowers to find out what really is happening, we’re not reliant on Bede’s press handouts to get the full story. Bede’s at the moment is in turmoil, even an idiot should be able to figure that out, though in your case, I’m not so sure. Keep on taking the happy pills, everything will be O. K.
To all:
A college whose roll of students has fallen from 1000 plus to barely 600 is one in serious trouble. Ms West should take Linda’s advice, stop digging, and concentrate on the matter in hand – the College itself. Until the clowns who got the College in this mess in the first place are removed, there’s no hope whatever. As to the sexual abuse case, if it goes to court, the press will have a field day…..
To all our readers:
If anyone wishes to contact the MEN, the following people may (or may not) be of use in answering the question as to why Bede’s is currently absent from the local rag:-
News Editor: Paul Gallagher (previous school unknown)
Reporter who first broke Bede’s abuse story in 2011: Mike Keegan (Old Bedian) – still on the MEN books, I believe
Managing Director (Queso Grande): Eamonn O’Neal (ex-Bedian)
I hope you have better luck than I did – so far Omerta is the name of the game.
Point one
Dear Mr malpas I have been unfortunate enough to have been ask to read some of your comments you have posted about st bedes by another parent at st bedes I find it amazing that you have a personal vendetta against the school and some of the staff and governors of the school when you have had a number of children that have attended the school and have done very well as I will assume you agree I find it amazing that you slate the school so much having sent your children to be educated by some of the people who may have taught your children I have had five children at school and still have children at the school and can only say good of the school and past and present staff
Point two
Historic abuse
Whilst I would as a human being sympathise with any person that has been abused I would say at this stage it has not been proven
Point three
My children and other pupils at the school have and are enjoying st bedes so why don’t you let them enjoy their schooling as you and your children were allowed to do whatever has allegedly happed in the past is the past you seem to be living in the past so move on enjoy your sad life you bitter twisted old man old man
St bedes parent
Delving through your grammatical errors, it strikes me that you think I have some “personal vendetta against the school”. Fortunately that is far from the case. My argument is not with the school but with the people who run the school, the brainless Bishop, ex Florid Quinlan, Danny Kearney, Sandra Pike et al who have managed their own vendetta causing the school to sink almost without trace. I have no argument with the staff they are there to teach and according to the ISI report their standard is good, ISI speak for reasonable.
Historic abuse does not need to be proven in the minds of the victims, all of whom I know well. I do think that your attitude and that of Ms West comes from low empathy people who do seem to proliferate public life at the moment. Can I just say that the past is not just in the past, it is in the present as well.
I feel sorry for you Mr Maller.
I’m having to answer you in this way from a remote computer because mine has been attacked.
Lee, I can see where you are coming from, but Paul’s position is a lot more nuanced than you are giving him credit for.
You are correct that historic abuse has not yet been proven in any court of law, but if you have been following developments on this you will – or should – be aware that the evidence that serious abuse did take place is now overwhelming. You must either claim that Peter (for whom Paul M used the pseudonym “John” when he related his story) and Rick Merrin are blatant liars, or you must accept that what they say is true. I can’t see any middle ground here, or scope for shades of grey.
I believe Peter and Rick, and if you claim that they are lying you are also indirectly implying that I am foolish for believing them. I can assure you that I am no fool.
And since it is now beyond reasonable doubt that two people suffered serious abuse, and it is clear in at least one of those cases (that of Peter) that the abuse was organized and systematic, with the active connivance of at least one other priest, and possibly more than one, then I think one has to regard as highly plausible the claim that many other boys were also abused. I expect that further details will emerge from the forthcoming court case.
Don’t belittle Paul’s attention to what happened in the past. As George Santayana taught us, “Those who do not learn from the past are destined to repeat it”.
To Lee Maller
Did you miss the lessons on punctuation in English, or did you miss all the English classes completely? Your missive is barely literate. I take it English cannot be your mother tongue.
Forgive me for the above, if you’re dyslexic. In that case, get any further missives you send proof-read first, to save you from any further embarrassment.
There’s nothing alleged about sexual abuse at Bede’s, you idiot, Have you conveniently forgotten that Rev William Green admitted to it at Bede’s and was sentenced to 8 years jug. He’s currently out on parole, let’s hope he doesn’t want to visit the place, he certainly won’t be CRB checked (or whatever they call it nowadays), but knowing Bede’s and their Safeguarding Policy record, I wouldn’t be too sure he’d be barred.
Furthermore, Bede’s admitted Tommy Duggan’s abuse back in March 2011, almost 3 years ago. As regards ‘alleged abuse’, all the cases against Jimmy Savile are unproven, as he’s dead. Let’s see the BBC and Savile’s estate fight the lawyers against compensation claims.
Care to bet on the outcome of the abuse court case re Duggan? Thought not.
You seem to be about as well informed of sweet FA as Helen West, now go back into your Dreamworld, where all things Bedian are wonderful.
Also go and stick your pointless points somewhere they can’t do any further harm to the English language.
To Linda:
Our postings crossed, but as a fellow alumnus, I like the postings to be in at least passable English, something clearly the posting previous to yours would struggle to be credited as.
Your posting is in acceptable English, as is mine. LIke your goodself, I also would say that only a fool would seriously question abuse took place under Duggan, the evidence is compelling.
This ‘Historic Denial’ of previous sexual abuse does the College no credit whatever. The fact that the victims have had to seek legal redress is the fault of the College, the Catholic Diocese of Salford and possibly some poor legal advice. I can’t think of a sensible reason why they want the case to go to court, the almost inevitable consequence will be defeat and irreparable damage done to the already tarnished reputation of Bede’s.
Mr Maller can then have a go at the press (but possibly not the MEN) when they report daily the details of the case. Not doubt the BBC might want to stick the hobnails in as well, they’ve already dipped their toes in the water with the report on BBC 10 o’clock News, Friday 31 January.
Who said there’s no such thing as bad publicity? Another idiot, possibly.
To all:
In view of Mr Malpas’s problems with his computer, It seems the gremlins are at work again, As Corporal Jones might say about Bede’s “They don’t like it up ’em”, do they?
@Paul T, I agree with you. If I was running the show at St Bede’s, or if I was the bishopette of Salford, I would have recognized some time ago that there is only one sensible way forward on the abuse at St. Bede’s. (1) Acknowledge that it happened. (2) Issue a genuine apology (i.e. one not filled with weasel words) to every person affected – and this should be as individual letters, not a mass-produced form letter, signed, preferably, by the bishop. (3) Make a reasonably generous offer of financial compensation to each person affected. (4) Take some serious and genuine steps to prevent it happening again.
They could then put the matter behind them and focus on the school’s present problems.
Any other approach (and that includes the approach that they have in fact adopted) will mean that (1) is going to be forced on them anyway, that (3) is going to be a lot more expensive than it would have been if they had taken the initiative themselves, and that no-one will believe that they are serious about (4). It may also lead to a lot of negative publicity – and the present day St Bede’s can’t afford that.
I must say that I was utterly astonished that someone considered competent to be a governor of St. Bede’s would attempt to shut down Paul’s blog. It was an extraordinarily stupid and counter-productive thing to try to do. Again, if I was head teacher, I would be quite happy to let Paul do his thing, and I would do nothing to discourage pupils from reading it. I would, however, ensure that my own viewpoint was clearly expressed somewhere (e.g. on St Bede’s own website) and I would make damned sure that I presented a better case than Paul M. Pupils who read both would come down on my side.
I have always felt that the best way to respond to (what I consider to be) a poor argument is to present a better argument, not to try to silence the other person. If the other person happens to be right, by silencing him I lose the “opportunity of exchanging error for truth”. If the other person’s opinion is wrong, then by suppressing it I loose the chance to understand more deeply the truth in “its collision with error”. [Both quotes are from John Stuart Mill, in On Liberty.] It’s a sad day when a governor at a once great school is unable to recognize this basic principle.
Paul T,
Don’t kid yourself: nobody here knows what is going on at Bede’s. That much should be obvious by some of the nonsense passed off as credible fact.
“And exactly how do you personally know that certain statements are untrue?”
Because no evidence, compelling or otherwise, has been offered to suggest that they are true. The burden of proof is on the people making serious allegations, about abuse and the deliberate cover-up of abuse. That isn’t me defending the indefensible, that is logical. Paul is well within his rights to take Bede’s to task for its apparent failure to protect pupils 50+ years ago. However, to speculate and guess about people’s motives and actions and pass such speculations off as fact is dangerous and unfair.
Frankly, I’m disappointed that people who read this – most of who disagree with me and with whom I disagree with – haven’t spoken up and taken him to task for this. It strikes me as a fundamentally wrong thing to do, hence my issue with it.
Also, Paul M, as I’ve stated before, you have fallen foul of defamation law and, I would have thought, would be eager to right any wrongs in that regard.
Yes, I’m still anonymous. Shocking.
To Linda:
We can only assume someone at Bede’s has hacked Paul Malpas’s computer, we don’t know for certain, but the coincidence is there for each to draw a reasoned conclusion as to the perpetrator.
Pro-Bedian bloggers, by and large, tend to be anonymous. At least for all her faults, Ms Helen West has not not hidden behind a Cloak of Anonymity when making her complaint. As to whether it was justified, that’s another matter, I’d side with you in that it was an ill-thought out attempt to silence someone. It’s clear the attempt hasn’t worked, thus the hacking, as another try to silence Bede’s critics.
As one can do these things nowadays, information on Directors of Companies are readily available on-line. Our Ms West, according to Companies House, was born in April 1969, four months after the death of Tommy Duggan, and nearly three years after he departed the Alma Mater. Unlike a large percentage of the bloggers, she never had the misfortune to come across the late, unlamented Rector. Furthermore, she, in all probability, knows no-one who was a victim of TD’s abuse. You and I were fortunate to arrive as his antics had all but ceased (1964), and after a further two years he departed.
The people she should really be listening to are not you or me, but to the ones who were TD’s victims. Furthermore, the fact that the abuse continued under Billy Green (and no amount of spin will remove his misdemeanours from the public record) should hopefully help her realise that Bede’s had an endemic problem with sexual abuse, for which it has never properly apologised. I’m afraid that burying ones head in the sand, hoping it will all go away, hasn’t worked, thus the resulting imminent court cases.
Perhaps she can then complain to the media when the court case gets under way. If she only reads the MEN, based on recent history, there’s a good chance she won’t see any mention of it.
James J, why Paul tolerates you still without you at least telling him privately who you really are, I cannot answer. Interesting the pro-Bede whingers on this blog all threaten Paul, spewing words like ‘deformation law’, blah blah. You bastards must feel really uncomfortable with the Blog still going strong after all your miserable efforts. JJ, you were probably never at Bede’s in the first place, just one of the low life’s that infect serious blogs like this. Sticking you nose in where it is not wanted. Give Paul your address and he will send you a packet of Play Doh to keep your fingers busy and away from a keyboard and your private parts.
In far away Australia a Royal Commission is running into Child Abuse. Every kind of Child Abuse. Some in very recent years. I will direct you to the ‘Courier Mail’ of Brisbane. Long title will get you to the article. “Royal Commission into child abuse hears that serial child abuser Gerald Byrnes was kept on teaching staff at Towoomba school”. The bit that had me exploding at the TV last night was the fact a miserable female, Catherine Long, who was the so-called Child Protection Officer (the photo of the witch says it all) made the statement ‘she did not understand why the abused children did not HAVE THE COURAGE to come forward and complain. I am pleased to say that the newspaper put the miserable Mzzzz Long all over the front page of the paper and followed up inside with a couple more. This Harridin sat in on the parent and principal interviews, but did not report the paedophile to the Police. Excuse? Oh, I was just there to take notes! The principal did not report to the Police either. His excuse? Oh, I had already told the Catholic Church Head office, so I did not need to go to the Police! The principal went on to say he as one of the girls who was in his office with her father to pretend her father was the peadophile and take the father’s hand and do to yourself what the abusing teacher did to her. Whose idea was this the principal was asked. Oh, the Child Protection officer! Yes, I know, absolutely unbelievable! The peadophile was finally convicted of 33 offences involving girls under 12. Sadly they will not be hanging Mzzzz Long anytime soon.
Additionally, I find Peter’s comments unnecessarily antagonistic and insulting. I have no gripe with you and I see no reason why you should have a gripe with me.
Not sure if my previous post worked, so I’ll paraphrase just in case.
Peter, if you think that I’m threatening Paul, you need to read my comments far more carefully.
Regarding defamation: I am not threatening Paul; I do not intend to have anything to do with a defamation lawsuit; I do not intend to tell any of those whom he has libeled about the libelous comments. Rather, my comments were a simple warning and were designed to inform Paul, and some other commentators, that they have left themselves open, and I mean wide open, to potential claims for libel. My apologies if my intentions were obscure.
My anonymity – although you have my first name, know when I attended St Bede’s and are aware that I am still close to some parents and teachers – has nothing to do with anything that I have said about defamation.
I disagree with most of what Paul says about the current school and its recent (1990s onwards) past. Many people on here seem to agree with everything Paul says, which suggests that I disagree fundamentally with them too. However, I have always stressed my sympathy for victims of sexual abuse and my disgust at the perpetrators and have never attempted to wade into an argument on which I am not as well-informed as others.
Perhaps my sense of objectivity and fairness is awry, but I have tried to be even-tempered and lucid in what I have said. In addition, it is my right to disagree with Paul and I have done so wherever possible. I applaud him for deciding not to ban me a couple of weeks ago, as it suggests he does appreciate the need for debate.
No doubt, the Paul Taylors and Peters of this world will quickly correct me on my misapprehensions. However, perhaps they could do so in as gentle a way as possible, with as few references to my idiocy and private parts as possible. I will reciprocate.
I think suggesting that Paul’s computer was by a pro-Bedian conspirator is stretching credulity, take a look at their website – a first year computer science student armed with a free wordpress template would produce a better window to the world in half a day.
As a former student who has posted only a couple of times after stumbling across the blog I feel the ‘failure’ of St Bede’s to attract new students can only be a deliberate strategy.
Simply compare
http://www.xaverian.ac.uk/
http://mgs.org/
with
http://www.stbedescollege.co.uk/
As with my own experience 30 years ago, Xavarian looks to be a living breathing entity full of life and experiences and excitement to be had. I take a small exception to their politically correct photo of racial integration but that’s what marketing demands these days.
Re: James J;
I think most people find Paul’s pseudonyms of his key targets somewhat cringeworthy, but the way I see it – it’s his blog and his right to have some fun with the process of moving his cause forward. If I don’t like no need to read… I likewise find the attack on contrary opinions of respondents based on grammar a misdirection that perhaps should be avoided, given that I too often appear a retarded imbecile when responding via a mobile device with suspect autocorrection abilities possibly due to having been programmed by Chinese slave labourers at the behest of a California based computer company named after a Canadian cultivar. I personally would far prefer the time taken responding was spent disproving the content of the replies rather than attacking an aberrant comma, for the sake of argument lets just assume we are all smart people and that the disagreements that occur are driven by lack of factual context not by mistaken consideration of the correctness of the serial comma. Facts can be corrected and exchanged in a single response, grammar lessons take a little longer.
Lastly in terms of defamation, is literally defined as the communication of a false statement causing harm to the reputation of a person or organisation. Simply saying mean things or relating facts that reflect poorly on a person is NOT defamation. For defamation to be proven the statement has to be conclusively proven false… So unless you have PROOF that Paul’s statements are false, then I’m afraid you have advanced a false statement which may in turn be deemed to have harmed Paul’s reputation… mayhap you too ‘would be eager to right any wrongs in that regard.’
Re: Peter
I think subjects such as these make people on both sides of the debate uncomfortable, so I don’t know that attacking people for posting anonymously helps the process of open discussion. If people want to contribute anonymously then they should be able to do so without fear of rebuke. Likewise, in any discussion, people will disagree and I find this blog generally a little quick to turn to name calling and insults when the power of discourse and proof of facts is in fact with the side of the blog.
I understand why the subject is so very painful and enraging to all involved but more could be accomplished by firm, factual discourse and educating the poster rather than chastising.
The thorny issue – which is enraging the core group here on the blog is the term ‘historical abuse’ as though it was so long in the past that it blends with historical aberrations such as the British concentration camps of the Boer war or the Boxer rebellion, both likewise conveniently ignored in modern times as we continue to berate the Germans for the same in the second world war. Historical abuse, as Paul railed against is a convenient removal of continued responsibility. A way of saying ‘it’s not our fault’ the old ‘the past is a foreign country’ refrain writ large by those with a duty to study and learn no matter how hard the looking at the facts is.
I attended St Bede’s through a block of the Bill Green years from 1977 and though I disliked the man never heard or saw anything to make me think anything untoward was going on. I was far too busy listening to punk and occasionally studying along with my daily disciplinary issues to weave around or often through. That ignorance of the facts of what was going on doesn’t mean they didn’t happen. It doesn’t mean someone shouldn’t have been aware, namely someone with responsibility for child safety within the organisation. Just as in the Jimmy Saville affair, people knew and people chose to turn a blind eye. In my opinion THOSE are people that equally need be punished.
Its easy to talk about systematic failure in the case of the longevity of abuses at the BBC and St Bede’s but in fact that were no systems to fail, and by and large there still aren’t. What there is are many individuals who need to be gutsy enough to stand up and be counted, not decades later but while the abuse is going on. As the saying goes, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”, that the deniers are still doing nothing allows the future to be as evil as the past and if that requires the liberal use of a few good old Anglo Saxon words to get people to wake up then I’m behind Paul all the way.
Lastly, back to James J and ‘Don’t kid yourself: nobody here knows what is going on at Bede’s.’
I totally agree, least of all those responsible for the running of the school, and that is kind of the point of this entire blog.
Make no mistake, it’s too late for the victims here. Too late to right the wrongs they suffered. Too late for compensation, second chances or psychotherapy to mitigate the damage. Just as the Saville victims will never get an apology from their abuser, they too will never see justice. But by shining a light on the darkest corners of these hulking institutions that have for so long swept the dirt under their proverbial carpets, maybe they can gain some closure, some sense of accomplishment that the evil didn’t in the end best them. That their courage even in their twilight years might mean some yet innocent child will gain the opportunity to be educated in safety. That’s no mean feat and one that will drive a man to pursue what’s right.
As for St Bedes? You want to know what I think is going on? I think they just plan to sell the land and turn it into a private housing estate on the outskirts of the city centre. They’re just waiting until the barrage of adverse publicity becomes so great they can be seen to have no choice but to throw in the towel. Hence the lack of effective marketing tools on the website. You see even in ‘defeat’ the church always makes a killing and despite the new Pope’s shiny new messages I doubt the proceeds will drop in the poor box…
best regards
Mike
To James J
You don’t give up, do you? On being anonymous, I mean. Ignore everything and it will go away, an infection seemingly passed on to all members of staff and more recent alumni of Bede’s. I seriously despair at times.
Just accept the simple fact that Bede’s is going down the tubes (barely 600 punters from a high of over 1000 not long ago) and now with a reputation for serial child abusers on a par with several other institutions, aired for all to see and hear in the media (BBC TV and Sunday Times are recent additions to the reporting organisations). A comeback on a par with Lazarus is needed to save the place. Any self-respecting head being lined up to replace the currently absent Mr Kearney will surely wait until the abuse case is over before taking the reins. This, together with a clear out of the current management, who got Bede’s into this unholy mess, is the only possible way the College can survive.
Sadly,the imminent court case of historic abuse will probably put the college out of its misery before then, it’s already struggling on life support, kept going to a large extent by Sheik Mansour’s generosity. Can you give a simple explanation by anybody in their right mind at Bede’s would want this to go to court? If you accept the hierarchy at the place haven’t a clue what they’re doing, everything else falls into place. The historic abuse case is an elephant in the room, unfortunately it’s so big there’s no room for anything else until it moves on. It simply cannot be ignored, it’s not going to go away.
The simple explanations are usually the correct ones, there was historic abuse (not once, but twice, remember) at Bede’s. It’s going to need a good lawyer to explain that away, furthermore the ISI’s report on Child Protection indicates that even after over 25 years since the convicted paedophile Rev Billy Green left Bede’s, they still haven’t got things right.
But of course, everything is all right in the wonderful world which is Bede’s…..
Paul Taylor, missing the point as per usual. What exactly have I said that is so objectionable? We disagree over the present school. Why retread old ground?
“This, together with a clear out of the current management, who got Bede’s into this unholy mess, is the only possible way the College can survive.”
How do you know? How can anybody possibly know that? It irks me that you try to sound like an authority on the subject, when you quite clearly are not. If you’re going to deal in supposition, make it clear to people: that is what it is.
To James J
And our intrepid hero is still anonymous……
If Bede’s current management is your idea of competence, you’re easily pleased.
Answer the simple questions below, no deviation from the subject please, for once.
How has Bede’s allowed this situation to develop into the current mess, with the ensuing court case, which will result in nothing but negative publicity? The current situation regarding historic abuse cannot sensibly described any other way.
How is it, after 25 years, and this is ISI’s opinion, not mine, that Bede’s still has a problem with Child Safeguarding?
Just so you understand it, neither of the above points are my opinion, they’re much more simple than that – they’re facts. Try not to confuse the two.
I’m not an authority on the subject, I’m just here to state the bleeding obvious, which you seem totally unable to grasp.
Oh, by the way, it’s not my opinion there are up and coming legal cases against Bede’s for abuse, that’s a fact. I can’t see the judiciary being as naive as you are when the lawyers start to rumble.
Let’s see what happens, care to bet on the outcome again? Thought not. Never mind, not long to wait now.
Just do us all a favour for once, try answering the above questions. Otherwise, remain what you are and seem to want to remain, anonymous. Give us all a rest.
I was always taught at Bede’s to have an opinion, but it needed to be based on logical thought. Perhaps they stopped teaching that some time ago, so we shouldn’t be too surprised at some of the more questionable postings.
Comment:
I think suggesting that Paul’s computer was by a pro-Bedian conspirator is stretching credulity, take a look at their website – a first year computer science student armed with a free wordpress template would produce a better window to the world in half a day.
As a former student who has posted only a couple of times after stumbling across the blog I feel the ‘failure’ of St Bede’s to attract new students can only be a deliberate strategy.
Simply compare
http://www.xaverian.ac.uk/
http://mgs.org/
with
http://www.stbedescollege.co.uk/
As with my own experience 30 years ago, Xavarian looks to be a living breathing entity full of life and experiences and excitement to be had. I take a small exception to their politically correct photo of racial integration but that’s what marketing demands these days.
Re: James J;
I think most people find Paul’s pseudonyms of his key targets somewhat cringeworthy, but the way I see it – it’s his blog and his right to have some fun with the process of moving his cause forward. If I don’t like no need to read… I likewise find the attack on contrary opinions of respondents based on grammar a misdirection that perhaps should be avoided, given that I too often appear a retarded imbecile when responding via a mobile device with suspect autocorrection abilities possibly due to having been programmed by Chinese slave labourers at the behest of a California based computer company named after a Canadian cultivar. I personally would far prefer the time taken responding was spent disproving the content of the replies rather than attacking an aberrant comma, for the sake of argument lets just assume we are all smart people and that the disagreements that occur are driven by lack of factual context not by mistaken consideration of the correctness of the serial com
ma. Facts can be corrected and exchanged in a single response, grammar lessons take a little longer.
Lastly in terms of defamation, is literally defined as the communication of a false statement causing harm to the reputation of a person or organisation. Simply saying mean things or relating facts that reflect poorly on a person is NOT defamation. For defamation to be proven the statement has to be conclusively proven false… So unless you have PROOF that Paul’s statements are false, then I’m afraid you have advanced a false statement which may in turn be deemed to have harmed Paul’s reputation… mayhap you too ‘would be eager to right any wrongs in that regard.’
Re: Peter
I think subjects such as these make people on both sides of the debate uncomfortable, so I don’t know that attacking people for posting anonymously helps the process of open discussion. If people want to contribute anonymously then they should be able to do so without fear of rebuke. Likewise, in any discussion, people will disagree and I find this blog generally a little quick to turn to name calling and insults when the power of discourse and proof of facts is in fact with the side of the blog.
I understand why the subject is so very painful and enraging to all involved but more could be accomplished by firm, factual discourse and educating the poster rather than chastising.
The thorny issue – which is enraging the core group here on the blog is the term ‘historical abuse’ as though it was so long in the past that it blends with historical aberrations such as the British concentration camps of the Boer war or the Boxer rebellion, both likewise conveniently ignored in modern times as we continue to berate the Germans for the same in the second world war. Historical abuse, as Paul railed against is a convenient removal of continued responsibility. A way of saying ‘it’s not our fault’ the old ‘the past is a foreign country’ refrain writ large by those with a duty to study and learn no matter how hard the looking at the facts is.
I attended St Bede’s through a block of the Bill Green years from 1977 and though I disliked the man never heard or saw anything to make me think anything untoward was going on. I was far too busy listening to punk and occasionally studying along with my daily disciplinary issues to weave around or often through. That ignorance of the facts of what was going on doesn’t mean they didn’t happen. It doesn’t mean someone shouldn’t have been aware, namely someone with responsibility for child safety within the organisation. Just as in the Jimmy Saville affair, people knew and people chose to turn a blind eye. In my opinion THOSE are people that equally need be punished.
Its easy to talk about systematic failure in the case of the longevity of abuses at the BBC and St Bede’s but in fact that were no systems to fail, and by and large there still aren’t. What there is are many individuals who need to be gutsy enough to stand up and be counted, not decades later but while the abuse is going on. As the saying goes, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”, that the deniers are still doing nothing allows the future to be as evil as the past and if that requires the liberal use of a few good old Anglo Saxon words to get people to wake up then I’m behind Paul all the way.
Lastly, back to James J and ‘Don’t kid yourself: nobody here knows what is going on at Bede’s.’
I totally agree, least of all those responsible for the running of the school, and that is kind of the point of this entire blog.
Make no mistake, it’s too late for the victims here. Too late to right the wrongs they suffered. Too late for compensation, second chances or psychotherapy to mitigate the damage. Just as the Saville victims will never get an apology from their abuser, they too will never see justice. But by shining a light on the darkest corners of these hulking institutions that have for so long swept the dirt under their proverbial carpets, maybe they can gain some closure, some sense of accomplishment that the evil didn’t in the end best them. That their courage even in their twilight years might mean some yet innocent child will gain the opportunity to be educated in safety. That’s no mean feat and one that will drive a man to pursue what’s right.
As for St Bedes? You want to know what I think is going on? I think they just plan to sell the land and turn it into a private housing estate on the outskirts of the city centre. They’re just waiting until the barrage of adverse publicity becomes so great they can be seen to have no choice but to throw in the towel. Hence the lack of effective marketing tools on the website. You see even in ‘defeat’ the church always makes a killing and despite the new Pope’s shiny new messages I doubt the proceeds will drop in the poor box…
best regards
Mike
To James J:
As to your previous posting , you state nobody knows here what’s going on at Bede’s.
I’ll correct your statement. Bede’s want people to think that nobody anywhere (outside of Bede’s) knows what they’re up to. Sadly, information from within has been leaking like a sieve, from the current absence of Mr Kearney, the true story of the defenestration of Mr Barber, cases for wrongful dismissal by previously employed staff, Antipodean fighting in South Manchester pub (attempted denial failed) and several other unsavoury episodes.
The tone was set years ago, the more recent instance in the late 90s of failure to report students (later expelled) for drug dealing to the police tells you all you need to know about Bede’s mindset. Keep all the crap indoors.
Sadly, Bede’s has always been secretive, that’s how the abuse was kept quiet for years. Then along comes Billy Green’s court case, bingo, guilty, 8 year sentence, and the whole lid is blown off the can of worms, for all to see. Now Bede’s is in the dock for once and doesn’t like it one bit…
To Mike;
A long posting, however it needed to be, covering most, if not all, the bases. You and I have opinions, both seem to be stating the rather obvious, but let’s cut through all the crap, Bede’s needs to recognise it was at fault for having two, not one, paedophiles operating with complete impunity. It has totally failed to do so to date.
By whose definition could that possibly be regarded as in any way acceptable? I’d argue it was unforgivable, Bede’s should hang their heads in shame and take down every photograph featuring the offenders, settle out of court for the claimants and rigorously implement the ISI’s recommendations for improvement of Child Safeguarding.
However, in view of the drastically falling numbers, the large turnover of staff and the likely punitive amounts required to settle or go to court and most likely lose the case, logic would dictate the nuclear option of closing the place and selling off the goods may be the only option. Don’t anyone kid themselves that this option has not been explored.
Actually Mike, nothing I have said is defamatory, as it has a factual basis. I say that because Paul has offered no factual evidence for many of his claims, a lot of which do damage the reputations of the people involved. So, he either has no evidence or is not sharing it with us. Either way, no evidence that Paul is not opening himself up to a defamation suit exists, so I am not in breach of any law. Moreover, what I have said does not damage his reputation, as he has failed or opted not to share evidence, leaving his libelous postings there for all to see, regardless of my contribution.
I hate to sound petty, but it had to be pointed out.
Doesnt sound petty at all – however if we are going to start spouting legal viewpoints we should perhaps start referring to Paul’s ‘allegedly libelous’ post and start heading our posts ‘without prejudice’ and add a disclaimer or two. But lets face it as two guys taking contrary positions on an obscure blog that really would slow things down.
Disclaimer i am not a lawyer but I keep a very good one on retainer.
Indeed it would. I think we’ve both made our points.
To Mike
A good idea to keep one on retainer, you never know when you might need a good lawyer – just ask Bede’s, I think they’d agree.
RE; legalism
The libel and deformation spoken of here are matter of civil law I believe. Beyond that, assume that the civil law is a highly specialist subject where the outcome depends of the depth of the pockets of the litigants. Action starts at £60K and you can’t recover your fees even if you win. Lets not get carried away Neither Bede’s nor the diocese would invite the publicity or have the authority to spend the money. They could threaten mediation, but that’s not a threat to the accused as I see it.
RE: Progress
I think there is evidence of the following patterns of behaviour.(Interestingly a recent BBC programme on confession brought out the way Pius 10th introduced personal one on one confession for young children in the early 20th century)
Young males were quizzed and interrogated by confessors from first communion (7) onwards. The content of the priests enquiries were sexually explicit. This is grooming.
At the school, groomed or vulnerable males were selected by junior priests for repeated abuse by senior priests. The abuse was perpertrated by persons conspiring together. The abuse was organisational and collective.
The school was the junior seminary for the diocese. The diocese and school had a special responsibility for identifying, selecting and training young men through puberty, sexual maturity and for a subsequently celibate life, yet there are no records of any structures or procedures to safeguard students or guard against perpetrators. Nevertheless, accusations were known to have been made in the period.
The graduates of Upholland from the 1960s and 1970s are the backbone of the diocese. Some will be Old Bedians with another 30 years in which to consider their position.
MODERATION
Blogs are free-form places – I try to get past the language, spelling, grammar and style. Walk in the other guys shoes. The abused are owed the truth as the church knows it to be. The current parents and the school as a community are as innocent as our parents and we were.
The truth remains that the diocese and school would be immoral to place the preservation of wealth (greed) and reputation (pride) over contrition and restitution for their former classmates. What is not compassion and understanding perpetrates the injustice. No victim should have to suffer this.
The bishop needs to get the people who know the history to sit down with the people who suffered and let them take it from there. Catholicism either demonstrates moral values or is a dangerous charade in which the school should have no part. While the diocese is lock-down, can any school be considered safe?
Sadly though, it is a free society and no priest can be dragged to an inquisition (thankfully). That is why the duty here is moral. We can only appeal for good to emerge if it will.
And a considerable thank-you to Paul Malpas and bloogers here for sustaining this issue
To all commentators,
I am still having problems with my computer and this blog after being attacked last Thursday, so some of the comments which deserved answering have not been treated with the respect they deserved from me. All I can say is thank you Linda, Paul T, Mike, Old Bedian and Peter in Australia for continuing the debate and in fact putting things into better perspective than I could ever do.
To Old Bedian:
Points well stated, no flannel. The crux of the problem is even now the College’s and Diocese’s total failure to admit there was a problem in the first place. When priests were accused of wrongdoing in various parishes, they were simply moved somewhere else, in most cases repeating the abuse. The prime concern of the Church was to protect the reputation of the abuser, not the victim.
Bede’s attempt to hide the catalogue of offences committed by a number of paedophiles at the College does them no credit whatever. Their attitude appears to be it was a long time ago, no-one is bothered, we’ve got away with it for so long, besides we didn’t know what was going on anyway, so it’s not our fault, nothing to do with us.
This attitude is nothing short of shameful, for a College which supposedly upholds Christian values. The negative publicity regarding the abuse cases is already causing damage to the College’s ability to attract new students, witness the dramatic fall in numbers over the last decade, from over 1000 to barely 600, questioning seriously the viability of the College as an on-going concern. The imminent court case will attract yet more unwanted bad publicity, the option Bede’s took in deciding to go to court seems ill-judged, to put it politely.
We await the court case with interest. Only once this issue has been settled, will it become clearer if Bede’s can continue in its present form. The omens are not looking good….
Now back into even hopefully better secure mode, thank you all for your patience and I do hope you continue commenting. Unfortunately I am out of contact in a few days time whilst I fulfill a debt of honour but be sure there will be plenty to come out of it. I will be in e-mail contact at all times. The Catholic church is not the only dark man in the wood pile.
Helen West – What a pathetic effort by yourself ! Are you really a school governor ?
Paul Malpas – Brilliant work, keep it up, the victims deserve to have you on their side. May your computer recover it’s former strength.
St. Bede’s College – Once again, I am ashamed to have attended such a wretched, twisted and shameful institution.
To all who may be critical of Paul and his Blog. If only Blogs like this had been available in the 1950’s we might have exposed the abuse we suffered at the hands of this reprehensible prelate Duggan and his henchmen. For me Paul’s searching revelations were like a breath of fresh air when I discovered that I was not alone. Keep going Paul!! David Andrew
Hi Paul,
I came across your site by accident when attempting to find some news about fellow pupils. My years at the college were 1960/67.
You have certainly stirred up a hornet’s nest.
My Father and Uncle were Old Bedians and my Uncle, Vincent Hamilton, taught there. A number of our friends and extended Family were either pupils or teachers at the school.
Knowledge of the recreational paedophilia of The Monsignor was rife amongst the pupils. Pupils who laughed at something they neither experienced nor understood, unless they were directly involved. If you WERE involved, the horror would be a reality about which, through imagined guilt, you would not be able to comment or accuse.
The shame of it all is, that a College, which has so much to recommend it, is likely to suffer immensely for the evil of a few perpetrators and for the actions of those who wished to hide it all away for …………”Good reasons(?)”
Kindest regards,
Mark Hamilton.
To: Mark Hamilton
You say that knowledge of TD’s antics was rife amongst pupils during your time there, 1960/67.
My time there overlapped you by three years (1964/67, I left in 1971). I can state categorically that never once was the abuse mentioned by any of my fellow students in my year, and that includes still remaining in contact with several of them up to more than a decade later.
The prime reason for students of my era not knowing this would appear to be TD’s slowing down and then ceasing the abuse, prior to his ejection in the summer before you left i.e. 1966.
It would be interesting to hear comments from other students at Bede’s earlier than myself. It seems to be the case that, rather like Jimmy Savile, everyone supposedly knew what TD was doing and the staff did nothing to stop it. I cannot believe the likes of Gerry Robinson, Ron Smith, Spike Martin, Jasper Shaw, Bill Heaton and several other lay teachers of my era would have stood idly by and let the abuse continue.
Undoubtedly several others, more likely the dog-collar wearers residing at the Alma Mater, did know what was going on.
I think it’s very difficult to determine who did know what was going on, we must not assume everyone knew what was happening. We must be fair and not tar all the staff there with the same brush.
The conduct of the College since this abuse came to light has been nothing short of shameful, on that we can probably both agree.
I was surprised by Mark’s posting too, because I never heard, saw, or suspected anything about Monsignor Duggan, either in the 2 years I overlapped with him, or in later years. I didn’t come across even the faintest of whispers.
Would Mark be willing to give us more precise information about how the pupils of his time knew, and what exactly they said?
If many pupils of that time really did know that something was going on, then it defies belief that the staff could have been unaware of it.
To: Linda
We both agree on this, however everyone ‘knew’ about Jimmy Savile’s antics once he had died and could not sue for defamation. There was no way JS was ever going to be charged, let alone convicted, of any sexual offence. He knew where all the bodies were buried and several senior politicians, judges and policemen were allegedly implicated with him in the abuse.
The same almost certainly cannot be said for Tommy Duggan. The two organisations keeping the lid on this – the College itself and the Diocese of Salford. It beggars belief that they did not know what went on for over 15 years at the College, also being remiss in not picking up another later offender, namely one Rev Billy Green.
May they hang their heads in eternal shame for this. Their day in court, during which they will need to give a rational and reasoned excuse for their failure to act, will make for interesting hearing.
The names of the bent, corrupt arseholes have been blanked out in order to highlight their culpability. Helen West, all you have done is show that this new team of governors are as bad if not worse than the old crop of sheisters. You have got into bed with a school of spineless fish who are so toothless and pathetic they can only wage war against children. Although they are not as bad as the goyim who still sacrifice the well being of their children and send them to an institute that glorifies in the rape of our defenseless minors. Blood for the Passover eh?
I am an ex pupil of st bedes, I was abused there between 1969 and1974.i have no confidence in the ability of the Catholic Churches child protection officers now in place it could still happen again. It has taken me years to get over the abuse. Only through counseling and support of a few people have I managed to overcome the shame and fear brought on by this abuse. I commend you Paul for all that you are doing.
Unfortunately I have no confidence in the legal system in supporting victims or in convicting sex offenders.
I know how much I would be affected reliving the events of the 70’s hopefully you will find the peace that you and other victims deserve.
Well done and thanks for what you are doing.
Tom,
I totally agree that the Safeguarding Commissions of the Catholic Church are there to divert the complainants, certainly not to help them. To that end and I say this to all survivors, it is better to talk than to say nothing. I would appreciate if you would e-mail me privately on malpas46@eircom.net. I could e-mail you on the address that came with your comment but I would rather you take up the initiative. If you do not want to talk of your abuse I understand, but at least would it be possible to name your abuser.
Paul, it’s very unfortunate that you allow the important work being done in exposing decades of tolerance of child abuse to be accompanied by comments marinating in sexism. Calling Ms West a nymphet,ffs? Mzzzzz for Ms, women that commenters don’t like are witches- this is just old fashioned misogyny, conforming entirely to sterotypes of what men who came out of the old boys network are like. Please consider not pulling shit like this yourself, and encouraging your commenters not to do so.
Regarding the shrinking enrolment, I think that was inevitable considering that it in the 90s, they went up to 1k basically on a model of being a private school with only about a third of the pupils actually paying anything. When I started in the mid 90s there were 150 in a year. 30 were on assisted places, about another 60 were from Trafford. Basically they expanded on the basis of two schemes, the assisted places and the Trafford payments, that were finite. The existence of those schemes also drove up standards because they could let in plenty of us bright but poor kids, so of course when they finished, the student body got less smart because more of them had been let in because they could pay. I’m actually surprised it took this long for the enrolment figures to collapse, particularly as you can get the same education for free at Loreto or Ambrose if your kid is bright. I prefer mixed sex education, but even so it’s a no brainer- no way will I be dropping 9k a year for mine when the time comes when I could just move to Trafford instead!
I wish all peace and justice to the victims- may you finally find redress and happiness.
Mrs West got what she deserved, she tried to close me down. Personally I have had redress, everybody now knows what went on at the school, the court cases to me mean very little but to the survivors of the abuse they obviously mean a lot Also I am very happy, I live in a little town in the West of Ireland on the banks of a lovely river which flows into beautiful Loch Ce, a few hundred yards away. I cannot wish for a finer place to live. Certainly far, far removed from that dung hill of a polce state that Cameron calls Britain. The victims had the same idea years ago, most of them live overseas.
But thanks for the thought provoking comment.
Paul, I went to St Bede’s College from 2002 -2014. I remember your blog being a big thing when I was there and I have recently been thinking of of St Bede’s again. I remember a Monsignor Dodgem when I was in the infant school and a Father Dearman who had been at the school many decades. I was wondering if you know anything about these men? Please feel free to email me, I have many memories from my time there.
Harry,
you bring up two characters who definitely need looking at, Fr Dodgeon as he was in my day. I think he joined the staff in the very early 1960s and taught me unsuccessfully Latin and Greek for a couple of years. He was not a nice person, a psychopath of high degree, not an empathic bone in his body, who became rector of the school in the early 2000s when the school started to slide. In all my blog experience I had only one witness to a sexual assault by him on a pupil and that was in his time as Rector but although that pupil contacted me I could not record it publicly. I needed more evidence, more witnesses. The assault claimed was brutal. Dodgeon by this time according to witnesses had sunken into an alcoholic state that was known by most and had been almost sidelined in his role.
Fr Dearman according to legend was a mathematical genius who sharpened his skills by inviting young girls up to his room at lunch time. In the next room the infamous Fr Green was coming on heavy with young boys. It could have been Dearman’s way of evening things up in the equality sex wars of the time. I have spoken to a number of girls in my daughter’s time there, girls who are now enjoying successful careers in their fields and married with children but none were willing to make a statement publicly. They were all ashamed of what they let him do to them. I suppose some kind of adolescent rite of passage. They all agreed his personal cleanliness left a lot to be desired. He smelt like a dog’s backside one of the girls said. So the two of them got away like most of the clerical staff of the latter part of the 20th Century. Of all the complaints from former pupils that were given to me, all of the abusers were clerics, not one about a lay teacher. Perhaps the reasons are obvious.
That was it, Dodgeon not Dodgem! Back when I was in Reception/ Prep 1 he gave us Mass every week on a Friday and then one day he just stopped and I remember thinking even then how odd it was we saw him every week without fail and then never heard anything of him again. I remember his face very distinctly. He had grey hair which he kept combed with a big red nose. Father Dearman was apparently apt at Maths and his office space on either the first or second floor was also his bedroom. I spoke to him several times and he was a student a St Bede’s and had experiences with the Blitz. It was be very interesting if anyone could be tracked down who went to school with him but maybe this would be too hard now.
I remember being mesmerised by all the old school photographs in Our Lady’s Corridor and a few were missing from the late sixties and I always remember thinking I wonder why this was. 1973 was the first year available again. I think a couple were missing from the 1920s.
I also remember Mr Byrne remaining of the Board of Governor’s once he had retired as Headmaster and then left rather abruptly, do you happen to know anything about this?
There was an English teacher called Mr Berry (maybe Mike?) who was also a student at some point and retired in circa 2013 a Mr Gibson (Chris?) who taught Latin and returned after going to Cambridge to be a teacher in the 1970s and also a Mr Joe Bowdon who has a history teacher and also a student. They will have all been students between 1950s and 60s. I remember them all very well, not for any particular reason though. Do you know what happened to any of these men and if there are still there?
There is definitely something about St Bede’s that causes it to leave its mark on people that spent time there.