UNITED KINGDOM
Comet 24
James Scott
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
A senior investigator is to lead a review into historic allegations of abuse at St Francis Boys’ Home in Shefford.
Op Haryana will look into claims of physical, sexual and emotional abuse in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s at the boys’ home, which was run by the Catholic Church until it closed in 1974 and was turned into flats.
An investigation was opened in May last year after complaints were received against the home, but was closed in November after Bedfordshire Police concluded there was insufficient evidence to take the case forward.
A month later the case was reopened after 28 ex-residents came forward with allegations that they were physically or sexually abused at the home.
Two surviving suspects have now been identified and are the subject of further investigation.
Mark Ross, who will lead the review, said: “The investigation has evolved due to the large number of victims and witnesses. We are now in a very different era and social attitudes and the criminal justice has changed significantly in the last 50 years. I aim to provide all of the victims involved with an outcome.
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