Ongar mum-of-three calls for progress in Church of England drugging review

By Joseph Flaig
Guardian
February 7, 2015

http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/11777586.Anger_over_school_child_abuse_review_delay/

Teresa Cooper has campaigned for an investigation into child abuse at a Church of England-run school

The delayed launch of an inquiry into historic child abuse at a Church of England-run school for vulnerable girls has been criticised by one of the victims.

Teresa Cooper, 48, has campaigned for an investigation into abuse at Kendall House, a Church of England-run care home for “emotionally disturbed" teenagers that operated between 1920 and 1986 in Gravesend, Kent.

Ms Cooper, who now lives off Moreton Road in Ongar, was sent to Kendall House in 1981 when she was 14.

During the 32 months she was there, records show she was forcibly given drugs such as Valium and other tranquilisers more than 1,200 times.

She says she was sexually abused while under the effect of the drugs and has suffered ill health ever since, as have all three of her children.

In 2009, a BBC investigation found a number of other ex-residents had gone on to have children with birth defects after being forcibly given cocktails of drugs in the 1970s and 1980s.

On January 9, the Bishop of Rochester James Langstaff announced the review would take place after several months of discussions.

But no appointments have been confirmed and a spokeswoman for the Bishop said there is no timeframe available.

Ms Cooper said: “I am shocked there have been no efforts by the Church of England to resolve or move the Kendall House review forward for several months.

“They have behaved irresponsibly throughout and not considered the repercussions of their delays or actions.”

 “Resolution is the key to moving the review forward and the church is not engaging.

“There appears to be a great lack of understanding on their part.”

Speaking to the Guardian in 2012, Ms Cooper said her daughter had a cleft palate, her eldest son was born with respiratory problems and her younger son was blind until he was two.

The Church of England paid Ms Cooper £50,000 in an out-of-court settlement in 2010, but did not accept liability for the abuse.