Inquiry into alleged abuse at top British Catholic school ‘denied victims any hope of justice’
Students at £33k Ampleforth College say an abuse scandal which involved a teacher allegedly being fired was never properly investigated
AN INQURY into alleged sexual abuse at one of Britain’s leading Catholic schools denied victims any hope of justice, according to former pupils.
Dr Paul Sheppard, a Canadian who taught at the £33,000-a-year Ampleforth College in north Yorkshire, was last year cleared of sexually abusing one pupil 27 years ago.
Famous students of the prestigious school include former England Rugby Captain Lawrence Dallaglio, actors James Norton and Rupert Everett and Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes.
Sheppard was first arrested on suspicion of serious sexual offences in 1989 against a pupil who later committed suicide.
He was charged with seven counts of indecent assault against five students, but charges relating to all but one of the boys were thrown out by the judge at York Crown Court.
Jurors were also never told by Judge Colin Burn there had been more than one complainant, or that
Sheppard had been asked to leave his job in 1989 following claims he had stroked and kissed young boys.
Dr Sheppard denies any wrongdoing.
The college – where boys are left in the care of Benedictine monks – allegedly covered up the potential scandal and never properly investigated the complaints.
Now alleged victims say North Yorkshire Police did not question two former pupils whose accounts which could have led to Sheppard being investigated about further child-sex offences.
Former pupils lined up as witnesses were told at the last moment they would not be needed as their written evidence had been accepted by the defence, the Times reported.
In reality their evidence was never put before the jury.
One former pupil told the Times his experience with judicial process had left him “amazed that anyone is ever convicted in a British Court of historical sex offences against children.”
He added: “The jury had to choose between the word of an experienced teacher and that of one former pupil.
“They weren’t told why Sheppard left Ampleforth in 1989. It was a complete travesty.”
Sheppard maintains it was his decision to leave the school.