A bungled inquiry into alleged sex abuse at Britain's leading Catholic School denied justice for potential victims, former pupils claim.
An investigation and subsequent trial into allegations that Dr Paul Sheppard, 53, sexually abused a ten-year-old boy Ampleforth College in North Yorkshire, was said to be marred with problems.
The teacher, who taught at the £33,000-a-year school for one term while on a teacher training course from his native country, was accused of indecently assaulting the boy 27 years ago.
The school boasts a star-studded alumni including former England Rugby Captain Lawrence Dallaglio, actors James Norton and Rupert Everett, Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes and the sculptor Sir Antony Gormley.
Former pupils claim that, at the time, several schoolchildren complained of Dr Sheppard's behaviour including stroking, touching and kissing boys.
The school's headmaster, Father Dominic Milroy, interviewed 11 children over the teacher's alleged inappropriate conduct and Dr Sheppard subsequently left the school.
It is unclear whether he was asked to leave is position or if he went on his own. He has long maintained that he chose to leave on his own accord, while the school claims it was a mutual decision. He received a glowing reference from Father Milroy during his departure.
Dr Sheppard then went on to teach at a string of other schools around the world, including at the American School of Yaounde in Cameroon and St John's School, a boarding school in Stony Plain, Alberta, Canada, where he rose to be headmaster in 2000.
However, he was arrested at Heathrow Airport in December 2014 when he returned to Britain from Canada for a month-long extended Christmas break to visit friends and family.
(more...)
No comments:
Post a Comment