Once again the Church of England is suffering the discomfort of more public spotlight following the airing of ‘Exposed: The Church’s Dark Secret’ on BBC 2 this week. The documentary details the former Bishop of Lewes’s predatory behaviour towards young, vulnerable boys and men, most of whom had joined his religious Order, and the church’s wholly negligence response to numerous complaints about him over many years.
A victim of sexual assault by a Scout Master has successfully obtained a substantial out-of-court settlement after bringing a compensation claim against The Scout Association for sexual assaults he suffered whilst a member of The Scouts.
Mr X joined a Scout Group in Northwood, London, when he was 11 years old, where he met the group’s Scout Master. Mr X was soon appointed as a Patrol Leader by the Scout Master.
During the course of our lifetime most of us will require assistance from healthcare professionals including Consultants, GPs, nurses, therapists or healthcare/hospital workers. It Is fair to say that this is a time when we feel at our most vulnerable and in need of reassurance.
Our client (referred to as Miss M to protect her identity) has been successful in her claim against her former school in respect of grooming and sexual assaults committed against her by a teacher between c. June and August 2013.
Sexual abuse in childhood by a person in authority is the ultimate betrayal.
Often that person represents an institution and may be a religious leader such as a priest or imam, a teacher, a Scout leader or a sports coach.
Where the abuser is acting in two capacities at the same time, a civil compensation claim may be directed against two organisations.
Yet another example of institutional abuse is highlighted in the settlement agreement reached by 2 victims of non-recent sexual abuse by a teacher.
The Church of England is currently suffering the discomfort of a public spotlight of IICSA – the largest public inquiry ever undertaken in the UK. The C of E is not alone in its scrutiny, the Roman Catholic Church having already been the subject of IICSA, together with several other institutions including local authority children’s homes.
The concept of sending one’s child away to a school where they also live is thought to be something quintessentially British.
In view of the upcoming public hearings of Child Abuse in the Anglican Church before the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, the recently settled case of abuse victim, ‘ARJ’, a civil compensation claim in respect of abuse of a child by a vicar in a London Diocese is topical.
In 2013, the Australian government set up a formal inquiry into how institutions had responded to child abuse. Terms of reference were established and 6 Commissioners were appointed chaired by the Honourable Justice Peter McClellan. Their brief was to enquire into institutional responses to allegations and incidents of child sexual abuse and related matters.
