Historic convictions for consensual acts to be deleted The Home Office will, from 1 October, begin the process of correcting an anomaly in the criminal records system which has for decades seen gay men unfairly stigmatised. Anyone with a historic conviction, caution, warning or reprimand for consensual gay sex, that meets the conditions laid down [...]
Historic Abuse case referred to Court of Appeal by the CCRC
May 25, 2012 from Leave a Comment
QualitySolicitors Jordans have issued the following Press release Criminal Cases Review Commission Refer QualitySolicitors Jordans Case The CCRC have referred the case of JD to the Court of Appeal on the basis of his convictions being unsafe. This is a further case in a series of Historical Care Home Appeals investigated by Mark Newby Solicitor Advocate [...]
Judge rules that a fair trial could not be achieved in a compensation case relating to historic abuse which was said to have occurred more than 50 years ago
February 28, 2012 from Leave a Comment
Judge rules that a fair trial could not be achieved in a compensation case relating to historic abuse which was said to have occurred more than 50 years ago. The claim related to a case involving a former resident of a children’s home run by a national children’s charity, the Children’s Society. Neutral Citation Number: [2012] [...]
We should pray for all those clergy falsely accused of sexual abuse
April 11, 2011 from Leave a Comment
There is an interesting article in the Catholic Times (here) written on Thursday, 24 March 2011 by William Oddie concerning abuse allegations made against Priests. Mr Oddie not only draws attention to claims which are are both truthful and claims which are fraudulent but concludes that more clergy than we realise are falsely accused but [...]
Court of Appeal clear man of historic abuse allegations
April 11, 2011 from Leave a Comment
Our attention has been drawn to a Court of Appeal judgment in which a man was cleared of convictions relating to offences said to have occurred between 37 and 40 years prior to their disclosure. Neutral Citation Number: [2011] EWCA Crim 726 Case No: D1/201002010 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE COURT OF APPEAL (CRIMINAL [...]
Appeal in alleged historic abuse in domestic case fails
February 12, 2011 from Leave a Comment
RE: Hereworth v R. [2011] EWCA Crim 74 (01 February 2011) The Court of Appeal recently considered the issue of missing historic documentation in case of alleged historic abuse in a domestic situation. The appellant was convicted on three counts of indecent assault and four counts of rape in November 2009 against M, whose mother [...]
A father of three says he has lost two decades of his life after being falsely accused of sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl
January 5, 2011 from Leave a Comment
A father of three says he has lost two decades of his life after being falsely accused of sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl. Ian Henderson served 16 months in jail alongside sex offenders at Wandsworth prison after being convicted of indecent assault in 1990. The former coach driver, 47, is in line for substantial compensation [...]
Vicar cleared of molesting children over 30 years ago
October 1, 2010 from Leave a Comment
A vicar and former teacher accused of molesting pupils more than 30 years ago has been acquitted by a jury on all counts. The Rev James Wilson was found not guilty by a jury of 16 counts of indecently assaulting children under the age of 13 which he had faced. Canon Wilson, the Rector and [...]
Judge rules fair trial not possible on past child abuse claim -alleged abuse too far in the past says judge
February 22, 2010 from Leave a Comment
A potentially ground-breaking judgement [in the Civil Court] has been made that should help social services departments defend themselves against past child abuse claims. For the first time, a judge has barred a claim on the grounds that a fair trial could not be held because the case was brought so long after the events [...]
Musician cleared of historic abuse
February 22, 2010 from Leave a Comment
A blind musician from Sheffield has been cleared of all charges after being accused of molesting a schoolboy over 20 years ago. Keyboard player Michael Higgins, aged 46, of Portland Court, Langsett, had denied two allegations of indecent assault which the supposed victim claimed happened in 1987. Mr Higgins was acquitted at the Old Bailey [...]
Sheffield musician cleared of historic abuse after four week trial
February 12, 2010 from Leave a Comment
A blind musician from Sheffield has been cleared of all charges after being accused of molesting a schoolboy over 20 years ago. Keyboard player Michael Higgins, aged 46, of Portland Court, Langsett, had denied two allegations of indecent assault which the supposed victim claimed happened in 1987. Mr Higgins was acquitted at the Old Bailey [...]
Leeds: Care Home Probe
February 6, 2010 from Leave a Comment
According to the Yorkshire Evening Post an investigation is underway into alleged sexual and physical abuse of teenagers at Leeds care homes. West Yorkshire Police’s Homicide and Major Enquiry Team is handling the inquiry into what they refer to as “historic” allegations which date back almost three decades. Detectives are looking into alleged incidents committed during [...]
Falsely accused Dublin Priest commended for his handling of the case
November 28, 2009 from Leave a Comment
A Dublin priest who was falsely accused of abuse has been commended for the manner in which he handled the case. Of the 46 cases of sexual abuse examined, only one priest was found to be falsely accused. In two other cases there were suspicions or concerns, but no actual complaint of child sexual abuse. [...]
The Commission of Investigation into abuse with Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin publish their report
November 27, 2009 from Leave a Comment
The Report by Commission of Investigation into the handling by Church and State authorities of allegations and suspicions of child abuse against clerics of the Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin is published today. The Commission came about because of the RTÉ Prime Time programme Cardinal Secrets, broadcast in October 2002. Produced by Mary Raftery, with Mick Peelo [...]
Former Director of Social Services accused of abuse said to happened over 40 years ago
September 29, 2009 from Leave a Comment
A former Calderdale social services chief has been arrested by detectives investigating alleged sex offences at a children’s home in the 1960s. Dr Rod Ryall, who spent 14 years with Calderdale from 1974 to 1988, has been questioned about his time as a housemaster at the secure Aycliffe Approved School at Newton Aycliffe, County Durham. These [...]