FORMER residents of a Catholic boys home are planning a ‘class action’ over claims they were sexually and physically abused.St Francis Boys Home, Shefford, was run by the Catholic Church until it closed in the mid 1970s.
Two former boys, Damien Chittock and Tony Walsh, have already won substantial out of court settlements from the church.
The police are investigating a complaint.
Several other former residents have contacted Mr Chittock, and they are now planning to collectively take the church to court.
They claim it was common for priests to come into the dormitory at night and kick the foot of one bed, when the boy would then be led off to their room.
Damning inspection reports, prepared before the home closed, criticised one priest for failing to immediately insist on police action after a boy claimed he was molested during a trip.
There were also claims the home may have been at the centre of a paedophile ring and that boys were ‘swapped’ between another Catholic home in Northamptonshire, the Abethorpe Boys Home.
A report into Abethorpe contains details of a home that was riddled with the abuse of children by the same Society that ran St Francis’s.
The home, which has since been demolished, was run as part of St Francis Children’s Society by the Catholic Northampton Diocese and most of the carers or teachers were priests or monks.
One priest, Father John Ryan, was specifically named in the writ against the church by Mr Chittock.
This reporter visited Mr Ryan at his home in 2007, but he refused to comment.
He has since died.
Following Bedfordshire on Sunday’s two year investigation, the police did start their own inquiry.
Mr Chittock said: “This is the chance for everyone to get justice. It is not about money but for all of us who suffered to get the church to admit its guilt, so we can move on. If you wish to join us, contact me or BoS.”
A spokesman for the St Francis Children’s Society, Father Paul Hardy, said: “As there may be legal and police implications it would be inappropriate to comment.”
A Bedfordshire Police spokesman said: “We have received a complaint concerning St Francis Boys Home and are in the early stages of an investigation.”