Two held in boys home abuse probe

Newmarket Journal
February 24, 2015

http://www.newmarketjournal.co.uk/news/regional/two-held-in-boys-home-abuse-probe-1-6597446

Two men from East Anglia have been arrested and a further two people interviewed in relation to alleged historic sex abuse at a notorious Catholic boys home in Bedfordshire , police said.

A 72-year-old man from Bedford was arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting four children, while a 79-year-old man from Mundford, Norfolk, was arrested on suspicion of six sexual and 14 physical assaults at St Francis Boys' Home in Shefford, Bedfordshire.

The abuse is alleged to have happened at the children's home during the 1960s and 1970s.

Detectives have so far identified more than 80 potential victims.

Both of the arrested men have been bailed until April pending further inquiries.

Police said a 68-year-old man was voluntarily interviewed under caution for sexual assault and inquiries continue.

A 78-year-old woman from Shefford was interviewed under caution for sexual assault. She was released with no further action.

All four interviews took place in the last two weeks and the alleged victims were updated over the weekend.

Further potential suspects have been identified and will be interviewed in due course, police said.

A Bedfordshire Police spokesman said: "At the conclusion of the interviews a report will be submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service."

The force brought in retired detective chief inspector Mark Ross to head the investigation in September.

Often referred to as an orphanage, St Francis' was founded in 1868 as a home for those from poor or broken families.

Run by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Northampton, it closed in 1974.

Former residents have described the home as an "orphanage from hell".

Some claim they were abused there by priest Father John Ryan, who ran the home in the 1960s and died in 2008.

Others say they were abused by Father Wilfred Johnson, who ran the home between 1945 and 1954 and died in 1994.

The diocese has previously said it "deeply regrets" any hurt caused but stressed the "claims are not proven".