[1] Ty Mawr Childrens Home – Violence, Child Sexual Abuse, Police Operations, Ty Mawr Report
Summary
The Report into Community Home, Ty Mawr was either completely incompetent or a cover up of child sexual abuse. Police investigations a few years later showed up how totally inadequate it was.
There were two authors of the Ty Mawr report John McCreadie and Gareth Williams QC
John McCreadie had been Sedbury Park School Headmaster and was not only violent himself but presided at a time when there was massive child sexual abuse.
The other, Gareth Williams was a QC who, before he carried out the Ty Mawr Report defended a man who conspired with child abuser Jeremy Thorpe to murder a man, and then the barrister went on to represent notorious child rapist Policeman Gordon Anglesea in his libel trial after he was called out for being a child sexual abuser. The QC went on to become Attorney General.
[This is an unfinished working copy, that I can no longer finish due to chronic illness due to my inability to think for sufficient time at the required level to finish it. These unfinished posts I have tried to tidy up, so that they are at least readable and as presentable as possible, even if not complete or finished to anyway near my satisfaction.
One of the reasons I started blogging was so that others did not have to waste time in repeating research that I had spent time in doing, whilst I was learning about child sexual abuse, and how horrifyingly widespread it was. Thus I feel it is worth passing on this unfinished research in the hope that it is useful to victims, survivors and other researchers.]
I may have stopped updating this draft for many reasons, I forget exactly- time, other priorities or often to seek more information by research, sources or FOI requests. Whatever the reasons I am now revisiting this post and publish in the hope that it is useful. Possibly the most annoying thing for me is that I am much less capable of the analysis of the research even after it is done.
This particular post was started some time in 2015 and ago and I feel it is important to release as the Ty Mawr Report was quite simply in my opinion, either a deliberate cover up of the abuse of young persons at the home or utterly incompetent.
It is the first of two or three posts on Ty Mawr.
Ty Mawr
Monmouthshire Council digitally released the 1992 Ty Mawr Community Home Inquiry Report digitally in 2013 [3].
Ty Mawr was an approved school, situated in a manor house in Gilwern, five miles from Abergavenny [1] taking about 50 – 100 residents at various times in its history.
National Association of Young People In Care (NAYPIC), local media and then the Independent campaigned about the child abuse at the approved school. A suicide was also connected to the school and a rooftop protest proved to be the trigger for an inquiry to be instigated in May 1991. It was published in July 1992, 6 months late.
In the Report [3] the authors flattered David Hunt, Secretary of State for Wales that his decision to institute an inquiry was “correct beyond doubt, bearing in mind the findings of the inquiry”.
The report recommended that the home was shut and criticised Gwent County Council for
- the inappropriate mix of residents cared for by largely unqualified staff.
- its lack of responsiveness to media and the media lack of sensitivity to children
- lack of trust and care in its own employees
- its management style
- the underfunded, under-resourced institution of Ty Mawr, and that staff should receive fair and just treatment.
However the report only briefly mentioned what it admitted was the central question of the inquiry. It was bizarrely placed at the bottom of page 33 of a 93 page report of which the last 30 are appendices. The central question was whether the allegations of brutal and emotionally cruel treatment were well founded. The inquiry failed to find them well founded.
The Report found that the violence was low level and part of an overmasculine culture.
When Operation Flight investigated child sexual and physical abuse in the Gwent Police area starting only 6 years later, three men were convicted for sexual abuse and indecency offences at Ty Mawr [Appendix 2] committed between 1967 and 1989 [30] [10] [31]
Gwent Police should therefore be congratulated on this investigation proving the report was totally inadequate.
The inquiry thus failed to answer correctly its central question – whether the allegations of brutal and emotionally cruel treatment were well founded. The Report said they allegations of brutality were not well founded but in approximately 2003
- Deputy Principal Barrie Alden was convicted for sexually abusing 6 children, 1966-1984 [30]
- John Wright a housemaster convicted for abusing 4 children between 1966 and 1969. His appeal [30]
- Neil Wardell convicted for physical and indecent assault on 5 boys between 1985 and 1989 and had actually been dismissed from the school for physical abuse. His appeal [31]
The report even states “Boy H …was the object of sexual misbehaviour from an older man. [p45] 1889/90” but it does appear to investigate further.
The inquiry studied the history of several boys. One of the issues the Inquiry was to look at was in Aug 1990 Aug Leslie C complained that another boy had attempted to bugger him [p40] yet this did not seem to ring any alarm bells.
In 2001 Michael Doggett denied 17 charges and the BBC stated he faced charges of sexual abuse and cruelty inolving young boys in his care, although I am not sure what happened in this case or the time period of the alleged offences [34]
Former Ty Mawr headmaster Ralph Taylor was cleared of assaulting pupils at the school by caning them. A jury acquitted him of eight charges of child cruelty and seven charges of assault.
Some brief stories victims of physical abuse can be read on Operation Greenlight Ty Mawr Residential School, Gilwern, Nr Abergavenny [81]
A valid objection to the allegation of incompetence of the Report may be that Alden’s abuse that was proved in court was 7 years earlier than the Inquiry. However Barry Alden was there from 1967 to 1991, was proved to have offended over 17 years. It is very unlikely he suddenly stopped still offending at the age of 50 even though the last of the offences tried in Court was several years earlier than the report.
How did the police quickly realise in 1998 in their enquiry, after talking to some victims, that the problem of abuse was much more extensive and therefore merited a much wider enquiry, yet the Report glossed over any such behaviour?
Operation Flight by Gwent Police
Gwent Police deserve credit for this investigation and the prosecutions which ran contrary to the reports findings.
Gwent Police’s Operation Flight started in January 1998, only 6 years after the Ty Mawr Report, following the referral of some complainants cases from Ty Mawr investigated at first by South Wales Police’s Operation Goldfinch.
It was run from Abergavenny Police Station. Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) was Superintendent Ian Johnson, Deputy SIO DI Llewellyn at first [Appendix 2]. By 2000 the SIO was Det Chief Inspector Terry Hapgood [1]
At first, only a limited investigation of Ty Mawr for Operation Flight was carried out but the police quickly realised, after talking to some victims, that the problem of abuse was much more extensive and therefore merited a much wider enquiry.
Gwent Police, therefore, decided to contact all 7,000 former residents of Ty Mawr, which was open between 1949 and 1993 [1]
By November 1999, the inquiry team – made up of 31 officers consisting of both existing and former officers – had identified 2,000 residents, talked to 1,500 and had received 150 allegations of sexual or physical abuse against 73 suspected perpetrators [1]. The police claimed the perpetrators were acting in concert and knew what each other were doing.
There was a concentration of complaints relating to the late sixties and seventies, though the earliest relates to 1962. Nearly all of these concerned Ty Mawr, but the investigation spread to 15 other childrens homes in Gwent, some of which were already been the subject of allegations. Offences range from minor physical assaults to buggery.
- In Nov 1999 the first defendant was acquitted. In Sept 2000 former Ty Mawr headmaster Ralph Taylor was cleared of assaulting pupils at the school by caning them.
- In 2001 Barrie Alden, an ex Deputy Principal of the School and Housemaster John Wright were convicted of sexual assaults and sentenced to 23 years between them.
- In Mar 2001 a Michael Doggett a housemaster was on trial for sexual abuse and cruelty but he may not have been one of the three found guilty.
- In 2003 Neil Wardell was found guilty of indecent assault but not guilty in a previous trial of more serious charges.
It is thought Operation Flight closed after this. The investigation had covered 30 other establishments covering Newport, Blackwood, Calicot, Monmouth, Chestow, Ebbw Vale, Abergavenny and Caerphilly.
It had 176 suspects but only 3 were convicted [Appendix 2], presumably all at Ty Mawr despite the fact that 60 were said to have been named as abusers in April 2000 [37].
- Op Care April 1996 until September 2003.
- Op Rose approx 1997 – 2002
- Op Goldfinch 21 April 1997 – approx 2003
Other Childrens Homes were Bryn Tirion, Cambridge House, Cartrefle, Central Ave, Coed Glas, Monnow Way, Ringwood House, Ty Mawr [77a] perhaps Bedwellty Centre , 175 project [p15]
Richard Webster and others were expressing their worries at the methods used by the police. The Home affairs Select Commision wished to know about it. There was a House of Commons Committee on abuse set up. Minutes 1990 Aug 9, 13 Jun 1991, 1992 Aug 3 Social Services Minutes (background to Ty Mawr Review) [77a]
“Trawling” ie contacting other pupils to ascertain if more offences were committed, was getting an unpopular name. However if done properly and targetted it is difficult to see how else it should have been done.
At this time, the huge prevalence of child sexual abuse in childrens homes, schools and the family was not realised and the accusations may have seemed unbelievable. Add to this high level politicians needed to keep child abuse quiet so that they themselves were were not investigated.
Questions
Police Operations
Undoubtedly more research is needed.
Questions also need to be asked why there were a huge amount of suspects 176 and only 3 successful convictions out of 176 suspects.
- Did the Police carry out the investigations properly?
- Was the technique “trawling” really to blame?
- Were the Operations curtailed due to pressure from higher up in the Police and/or by pressure from politicians and trawling was the scapegoat?
- Crown Prosecution Service needs to be investigated to find its role in these prosecutions
- What we now know of the political background with respect to child sexual abuse at the time of the investigations needs to be checked and crosschecked with what was happening in the investigations.
Ty Mawr Report
- Failed to find correctly in its central task about whether there was brutal treatment
- Stated various people should get therapy but never the boys themselves
- Made excuses for staff, whilst blaming council and management
This is exactly the same scenario as for Pindown, when the Levy Pindown Report found no child sexual abuse, yet the police investigations did.
Williams was a successful barrister, he spoke to 87 people and yet failed to find abuse, yet within years 3 people were convicted for it.
- How did the authors of the report get it so wrong?
- Was it a deliberate cover up?
- More research needed to be done on the authors
Some of these questions were addressed by a Select Committee on Home Affairs memorandum submitted by Gwent Local Authorities Social Services Department
A subsequent post will be some research on the 2 authors
Timeline of Ty Mawr
1949 Ty Mawr opened [1] Wolmar
1966 – early 1970 Wright at Ty Mawr as Housemaster. His offences took place over a 3-year period between January 1966 and February 1969 [30]
1966-1983 Sexual Attacks of Alden and Wright involved 17 pupils [10]
1967 Nov Barry Alden began work as housemaster [30] (later became Deputy Principal) cf 1968 [p11?]
1969 Alden achieved Certificate in Residential Care of Children and Young People and became warden in charge of about 80 boys [p11]
1970 Wright left Ty Mawr [30] {to go where?}
1971 Ty Mawr a Home Office Approved School which passed to Breconshire County Council in 1971 [p10]
1974 Passed to Gwent County Council and directly managed by Social Services Committee [p10]
c. 1976 – 1984 Mr Christopher Phelan at school (later became Principal)
1977 Barry Alden became deputy headmaster [30] cf 1976 Barry Alden was acting deputy headmaster became Deputy Headmaster [p11]
1979 – ? Boy N [p50]
1982 – c.1985 (various) Boy G broke member of staff’s arm with pool cue 27 Sept 1985 []
1983 Prior to 1983 Ty Mawr for about 100 boys aged 13-15; from 1983 for about 50. Intensive Care Unit ICU built with for 6 people with 2 secure places [p10][p11]
1983 Aug – 1985 – ? Boy M [p49]
1984 Barry Alden became Deputy Principal, essentially admin [p11] [30]
1984 Ty Mawr became Residential Assessment and Treatment Centre ages 11-16 [p11]
1984 Feb – Dec 1984 (various) Boy E Oct 1985 overdosed on amphetamines [p44]
1984 Oct – Aug 1988 (various) Boy K Worries about homosexuality with an older man. [p48] March 1987 absconded 3 times. Swallowed a razor blade
1984 Nov -Feb 1986 (various) Boy F Amphetamines [p44]
1985 April 1 Neil Wardell moved to Ty Mawr with his wife and baby as senior residential carer. Committed offences 1985-1989 that he was convicted for. [31]
1985 Sept 27 Boy G broke member of staff’s arm with pool cue []
1986 Sept Boy K readmitted to Ty Mawr Worries about homosexuality with an older man. [p48]
1987 Mar Boy K absconded 3 times [p48]
1987 Jun – Jul 1991 Leslie C various periods at Ty Mawr [p39]
1987 Jul – 6 Nov 1987 Boy L Threatening to kill himself 29 Oct 1987 [p49]
1988 Aug 1988 – Apr 1989 Boy C . Sept 1989 injured in Russian Roulette [p44]
1988 Ty Mawr 69 absconders 170 incidents [p27]
1988 Nov – Dec 1990 (various) Boy I [p46]
1989 Ty Mawr 66 absconders 188 incidents [p27]
1989 Mar Boy H – c.1990 Drank Windowlene Oct 1990. Barricaded in Rowley Jones hospital Oct 1990, Nov 1990 told Director he was going to cut wrists. He was the object of sexual misbehaviour from an older man. [p45]
1989 Sept – (various) Boy J [p47]
1990 Ty Mawr 72 absconders 273 incidents [p27]
1990 Jan 2 Incident with Mr Hewitt. Hewitt accused of slapping boy across face and dragging by ears whereas Hewitt said he led him by shoulder with no violence. Boy absconded and slept rough [p25]
1990 Jan 31 Boy in incident with Hewitt came back to reception centre at Abergavenny [p26]
1990 Jun 12 Phillip Knight suicide attempt. Alden was in Ty Mawr with him [p37]
1990 Jul 15 Phillip Knight killed himself in Hospital wing of Swansea Prison [p37]
1990 Aug Children Act 1989 Implementation Plan agreed by Council Members [77a] See also Jun 1991
1990 Aug 9 Social Services Minutes (background to Ty Mawr Review) [77a]
1990 Aug Leslie C complained that another boy had attempted to bugger him [p40] [report then immediately discredits him – (disturbed state, rocking,convulsing, rambling gibbering over which he had control)]
1990 Sept 16-22 Camping holiday at Aberaeron – 9 boys with only 2 members of staff – WK Williams and Mrs Ann Hartwright [p16]
1990 Sept 22 Police phoned Ty Mawr who contacted Williams at Aberaeron and abandoned the camp [p17] [August date in report must be wrong]
1990 c. end Sept Allegations were “sensational” in nature. Alleged that Mrs Hartwright and WK Williams had sex. Alleged abuse of boys on two occasions [p16] These were aired on local tv station [inquiry report wrongly states this was Sept 1991 [p19]]
1990 Oct Boy H Drank Windowlene and barricaded himself in Rowley Jones. Hospital Oct Nov 1990 told Director he was going to cut wrists [p45]
1990 Nov Boy H told Director he was going to cut wrists [p45]
1990 c Oct / Nov Alex Saddington from NAYPIC reveals vicious treatment of residents at Ty Mawr to government inspectors and council officials. He played tape recording of staff member saying senior staff taught him how to beat children without bruising. Inspectors said they were too busy. Gwent Council officers said it was “lies”. He had warning from Gwent Police to stay out of Wales [2]
1990 Dec Boy H was given 2 year conditional discharge and a fine at Newport Juvenile Court. “He was the object of sexual misbehaviour from an older man” [p47] [Who , more details]
1991 c. 17 residential care staff 9 Rowley Jones Hostel, 9 Parker Hostel, 9 ICU [p11]. Only two had social work qualifications. 7 teaching staff
1991 Feb – May County Council Review of Ty Mawr says there could be a future for Ty Mawr. Social Services Committee approved proposals for reorganisation of Ty Mawr [5]
1991 c. April / May Investigation by the Independent revealed emotional and physical abuse at the children’s home near Abergavenny, Gwent, and that Phillip Knight … [7]
1991 May Inquiry announced [by who, when?Jun 27th? ] after the Independent discovered physical and emotional abuse and Phillip Knight killed himself. 17-year-old Leslie Clements, made five attempts on his life before he was moved to a psychiatric unit where he could be treated [7]
1991 Jun Implementation of Children Act Review [77a]
1991 June 2 The Observer [2] Reign of terror lives on as cover-up starts Mr Hurley of Naypic alleges “pindown” abusers still in place in Staffordshire and cover up at Ty Mawr.
1991 Jun 11 Disturbance incident began at Ty Mawr [p21] Swearing and abusive. Plastic chairs thrown around. 11pm 3 boys were in a different wing with 3 other boys and barricaded themselves in [p21]
1991 Jun 12 They went on roof and threw slates down and made place unusable [p21]
1991 Jun 13 Social Services Minutes (background to Ty Mawr Review) [77a]
1991 Jun 20 Community Care [5] Violent protest at Ty Mawr. Independent Inquiry is to look into allegation of abuse at Ty Mawr
1991 Jun 27 David Hunt [24] the Secretary of State for Wales then directed Gwent County Council to inquire into the conduct and running of Ty Mawr. Gwent Council invited Williams and McCreadie to do the inquiry [p2]
1991 Ty Mawr by this time had about 20 boys []
1991 Jun 13 Report of Review of the Effectiveness of Service Delivery within the Residential Child Care sector considered by Council [77a]
1991 Jun Social Services Inspectorate report published. It criticised the home for locking up children for ‘prolonged and persistent’ periods in 1989 [7]. The report also stated that while the secure unit was intended to protect children from harming themselves, young people at the home believed it was being used as a punishment. The report criticised staff for poor record-keeping, which made it difficult for inspectors to check how long children were being kept in solitary confinement.
1991 Jul 8 Preliminary meeting of Inquiry at Abergavenny [p5] which stated the inquiry was independent, they intended to get to the truth, they would protect confidentiality, people could bring a friend, evidence taken in private and that it could be at place of persons choosing [p5]
1991 Jul 22 Ty Mawr Inquiry Started Formal Hearings [6] [p6] 87 witnesses [p6]
1991 Jul 31 Leslie C committed suicide at work [p40]
1991 c. Aug 1 Clements committed suicide. An inquest opened then adjourned [6]
1991 Aug 14 Welsh Office due to publish report on secure accomodation [6] [FOI needed]
1991 Aug 15 Community Care [6] Ty Mawr victims ‘reluctant’ to give evidence at inquiry. Alex Saddington NAYPIC spokesman said Clement had sufferered physical and emotional abuse at Ty Mawr and had committed suicide two weeks ago. Saddington claimed the inquiry would never reveal the extent of the abuse at Ty Mawr, but Andrew Hopper Inquiry Solicitor disagreed.
1991 Nov Barry Alden early retirement on grounds of ill health [p11]
1991 Nov Inquiry ceased taking oral evidence [p1]
1991 c. Nov/Dec County Council provided further written material. Also those to be criticised needed reasonable time to respond. Further police investigations were current not just based on Ty Mawr [p1]
1992 Jan Proposed initial delivery of draft Report [p1]
1992 Jul 20 Gareth Williams QC, author of the Ty Mawr Report was made life peer as Baron Williams of Mostyn, a few days before it was published. After Labour’s election victory he appointed a Home Office minister, and 29 July 1999 – 11 June 2001 was Attorney General for England and Wales and Northern Ireland. He was appointed Leader of the House of Lords in 2001, initially with the sinecure office of Lord Privy Seal, for which Lord President of the Council was substituted in 2003. [23] .
1992 Ty Mawr Community Home Inquiry Report Gareth Williams QC John McCreadie M.Ed Inquiry Solicitor Andrew Hopper [6] [3] [29]
1992 Aug 3 Special Social Services Committee Meeting to discuss Ty Mawr Community Home Report [77a] [need minutes]
Part 1 [3a] Part 2 [3b] Part 3 [3c] Ty Mawr Community Home Inquiry Report 1992
1992 Aug 4 Independent Ty Mawr report fails to satisfy home’s critics [7] Inquiry announced year last May after Independent claimed physical and emotional abuse and Phillip Knight suicide. According to his social workers, his suicide attempt was not taken seriously by staff at the home, who sought to punish him for it. The report failed to focus on the abuse of children and young people by members of staff. Mr Saddington said he was surprised that the inquiry report had rejected criticism levelled at the home’s use of secure unit cells by the Social Services Inspectorate. Its report published in June last year criticised the home for locking up children for ‘prolonged and persistent’ periods in 1989. He also claimed members of the inquiry had refused to disclose how many young people had given evidence and how many were allowed legal representation. Dewi Evans, Dyfed’s director of social services
1992 Sept 10 Gwent Council Director Social Services Report Ty Mawr [77a] discussed at Nov 12 meeting
1992 Oct 12 Discussion Opportunity for Council on Ty Mawr [77a]
1992 Nov 5 Wider sminar opportunity on Ty Mawr for staff, trade unions and voluntary organsiations [77a]
1992 Nov 12 Gwent Council Director Social Services Report Ty Mawr [77a] [summary needed]
1993 Mar 31 Ty Mawr and Ringwood to be shut [77a] and review of mix of chidlrens homes
1996 Sept 5 Operation Duffy, investigating Taff Vale was started from Canton Police station [28]. also appendix. This led to Operation Goldfinch
1997 Apr 21 Operation Goldfinch into child abuse at ? [] started from Cowbridge Police Station on 21 April 1997 [28]. This led to Operation Flight
1998 Jan 5 Operation Flight A number of complaints received for Gwent Police investigation from South Wales Police [Appendix 2]. An incident room Operation Goldfinch 2 was set up later changed to Operation Flight [App 2] into Ty Mawr and then 30 other establishments covering Newport, Blackwood, Calicot, Monmouth, Chestow, Ebbw Vale, Abergavenny and Caerphilly. Operation Flight ran until 2003, had 176 suspects but only 3 were convicted [App 2]. It was run from Abergavenny Police Station. Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) was Superintendent Ian Johnson, Deputy SIO DI Llewellyn at first [App 2]. Det Chief Inspector Terry Hapgood, senior investigating officer in Operation Flight 2000 [8]
Gwent Police was the point of contact and administrators of the National Historical Abuse Database and contact point for other forces conducting simialr investigations. [ap 2
convicted, charged, acquitted, not guilty, NFA
1998 Operation Shogun, a joint investigation between Gloucestershire Constabulary and Social Services, originally began [68]
1999 Jun 19 New Statesman [15] Richard Webster How Police Trawl the Innocent [Richard Webster was renowned as an “organised child sexual abuse” denier, whether from conviction or payment or blackmail it is not known]
1999 Jul 29 – 11 June 2001 Baron Williams of Mostyn was Attorney General []
1999 Nov. First trial defendant acquitted [1] [wolmar]
2000 Feb 16 Newport Crown Court, Gwent before Judge Crowther QC. Barrie Owen Alden was convicted on 10 counts, 4 of Buggery, 5 of Indecent Assault on a male, and 1 of committing Gross Indecency with a child, there were 6 victims. He was sentenced to a total
of 15 years imprisonment. John Robert Stafford Wright was convicted on 6 counts, 2 of Attempted Buggery and 4 of Indecent Assault; there were 4 victims. He was sentenced to a total of 8 years imprisonment. All victims aged 13-16 [30]
2000 Feb 17 The Mirror [10] Horror of the Innocents: Perverts Guilty – Barrie Alden, 66, was found guilty of two indecent assaults and one gross indecency on pupils at the South Wales approved school. Alden, deputy principal at the Ty Mawr School, Gilwern, near Abergavenny, was also convicted of two serious sexual assaults.
Housemaster John Wright, 56, was found guilty of two indecent assaults on pupils.
Newport Crown Court heard the attacks took place between 1966 and 1983 and involved 17 pupils at the residential school which closed in 1991.
2000 Feb 18 BBC [8] Approved school teachers jailed for abuse – Judge Thomas Crowther at Newport Crown Court jailed 66-year-old Barrie Alden, the former deputy principal at the Ty Mawr School near Abergavenny for 15 years after being convicted of 10 offences against young boys. Ex-housemaster John Wright, 56, from Talgarth in Powys was sentenced to eight years after being found guilty of six counts.
2000 Sept Former Ty Mawr headmaster Ralph Taylor was cleared of assaulting pupils at the school by caning them. A jury acquitted him of eight charges of child cruelty and seven charges of assault. [34]
2000 Sept 14 Guardian [14] Database links child abuse cases A confidential list of suspected offenders has linked 36 people to abuse in more than one area of the country, suggesting paedophile rings operated undetected for decades. More than 370 men and women are being investigated for a range of serious sexual abuses, and officers have compiled 1,700 names of suspected paedophiles for future inquiries. The details were released yesterday by Chief Superintendent Ian Johnston of Gwent police, which has been instrumental in setting up the national historical abuse database. This was launched last October to help forces coordinate paedophile investigations and follow Gwent’s exhaustive inquiry into the abuse of children at the Ty Mawr children’s home near Abergavenny in west Wales.
2001 Jan 8 Independent [12] Jason Benetto Paedophilia: Beck’s appalling crimes just the tip of child abuse scandal – Further scandals may be revealed as inquiries show widespread cases via Spotlight re Operation Flight. Tony Butler, the Chief Constable of Gloucestershire and spokesman on abuse issues for chief police officers, said: “In the past social workers and police officers simply didn’t believe the children. We didn’t think that short of thing went on in children’s homes. With Beck’s trial it became painfully clear that they could and did go on in children’s homes.” A national database of historic abuse inquiries, most concerning children’s homes and schools in the Seventies and Eighties, held by Gwent police, has a list of 34 forces involved in 98 separate inquiries. The numbers are increasing on a monthly basis. Operation Flight in Gwent is investigating 19 homes, including the former children’s home at Ty Mawr near Abergavenny in west Wales. The police want to trace 10,000 former residents.
2001 Feb 15 Court of Appeal Barrie Owen Alden, John Robert Stafford Wright Appeal Transcript [30]
2001 Mar 13 BBC Housemaster on trial for sex assaults [34] Mr Doggett denies 17 charges and the case is likely to last a month. A dormer housemaster at an approved school in Monmouthshire has gone on trial accused of abusing boys in his care. Michael Doggett, 57, worked at the council-run Ty Mawr school in Gilwern, near Abergavenny. Mr Doggett, of Bwlch in Powys, faces charges of sexual abuse and cruelty involving young boys in his care. Last September, former Ty Mawr headmaster Ralph Taylor was cleared of assaulting pupils at the school by caning them. A jury acquitted him of eight charges of child cruelty and seven charges of assault.
2000 Apr 13 Community Care More than 60 ex-members of staff at the former Ty Mawr children’s home in Gwent have been named as alleged abusers [37] 13 April 2000 More than 60 ex-members of staff at the former Ty Mawr children’s home in Gwent have been named as alleged abusers…Gwent police have launched Operation Flight to track down former residents of the home, which was at the centre of a public inquiry in 1990 that led to its closure…Allegations against former staff at another 19 children’s homes in Gwent will also be investigated by the Operation Flight team.The inquiry began as a spin-off from Operation Goldfinch – a probe into abuse allegations at children’s homes by South Wales police. Operation Goldfinch is now looking at allegations made against former staff at nearly 60 care homes. Several people, including a suspended Welsh Office social services inspector, have been charged.
2001 Jun 11 Baron John Williams of Mostyn ended as Attorney General, now Leader of House of Commons []
2001 Nov 7 Guardian Unlimited [50] There are probably 20 convictions that I consider unsafe Derek Brushett social services inspector
2002 Jan 28 New Statesman [19] The new injustices Richard Webster
2002 Feb Hansard Operation Flight [35] [13] Submitted by Gwent Local Authorities Social Services Department Do police methods of “trawling” for evidence involve a disproportionate use of resources and produce unreliable evidence for prosecution? Is the Crown Prosecution Service drawing a sensible line about which cases should be prosecuted? In relation to a number of subsequent complaints of serious sexual assaults, the CPS advised there be no further action and I think the reasoning behind this should be seriously queried. Is there a risk that the advertisement of prospective awards of compensation in child abuse vases encourages people to come forward with fabricated allegations? This is an attack the Defence are using in every trial of this kind. Of the 380 complainants of Operation “Flight” only 29 have made claims for compensation. However, as in any criminal proceedings this is something to which the victim is entitled.
2002 Aug 6 South Wales Argus [9] New figures on perverts 234 registered sex offenders living in Gwent
2002 Sept Neil Wardell was arrested by South Wales police as part of a large operation [31]
2003 Jun Neil Wardell stood trial on a 22 count indictment, containing allegations by seven complainants of sexual and physical assaults, including seven buggery allegations. Convicted of the six offences referred to above and acquitted of the others, the jury could not decide on five allegations of buggery. Retrial on these counts in July 2003 when he was eventually acquitted [31]
2003 Jun 20 Crown Court at Cardiff, Neil Wardell, aged 44, convicted of two counts of indecent assault, three counts of battery and one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Sentenced by the trial judge, His Honour Judge Wyn Morgan, to 6 months’ imprisonment on each of the three battery counts, 24 months’ imprisonment on one of the indecent assault counts, 12 months on the second indecent assault count and 12 months on the assault occasioning actual bodily harm. All sentences other than the 12 month sentence on the second indecent assault count, which was consecutive, were concurrent, so that, in total, Wardell was sentenced to a sentence of 3 years’ imprisonment. He was also disqualified from working with children for the rest of his life and required to comply with the notification requirements of the Sex Offenders Act 1997. [31] The offences occurred at Ty Mawr School near Abergavenney between 1985 and 1989. At that time Ty Mawr was a children’s home for boys aged 12 to 15 years [31]
2003 Jul Wardell retrial on 5 counts of buggery. Acquitted [31]
2003 Operation Flight ended [Appendix 2]
2003 Sept 2 Wales Online [16] Ex-housemaster jailed for assaults on pupils- A former housemaster at an approved school for young boys was jailed yesterday for three years for an indecent assault on a teenager and violent attacks on others. Neil Wardell, 44, was also banned from working with young people again and will be put on the sex offenders’ register for life on his release. Wardell, now of Alexandria, Dumbartonshire, in Scotland, worked at the Ty Mawr approved boarding school, in Gilwern, outside Abergavenny, between 1982 and 1988. Wardell had been forced to leave his flat in Leeds as a result of adverse publicity.
2003 Sept 22 Independent [22] Lord Williams of Mostyn Leader of the House of Lords and a reforming Attorney General. Died. Gareth Wyn Williams, lawyer and politician: born 5 February 1941; called to the Bar, Gray’s Inn 1965, Bencher 1991; QC 1978; a Recorder 1978-2003; member of the Bar Council 1986-92, chairman 1992; Leader, Wales and Chester Circuit 1987-89; created 1992 Baron Williams of Mostyn; Pro-Chancellor, University of Wales 1994; Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office 1998-99; PC 1999; Attorney General 1999-2001; Lord Privy Seal and Leader of the House of Lords 2001-03; married 1962 Pauline Clarke (one son, two daughters; marriage dissolved)
2004 Apr 29 Court of Appeal Neil Wardell Appeal Transcript [31]
2013 c. Nov [1] Needleblog Operation Greenlight Blog on Ty Mawr Residential School, Gilwern, Nr Abergavenny
2013 Dec What Do They Know FOI Request Operation Flight [Appendix 2] [21]
2014 Mar 14 Bryn Alyn Blogspot North Wales Residential Childcare Investigations – A Chronological View [36]
2015 Jun 11 Cathy Fox Blog Barrie Owen Alden, John Robert Stafford Wright, Court of Appeal 15th February 2001 [30]
2015 Jun 12 Cathy Fox Blog Neil Wardell Court of Appeal [Ty Mawr] [31]
Child Abusers Profile
Barrie Owen Alden born 21st August 1933. He began work at the school in November 1967 as a House Master and lived in a flat at the school. He became a Warden in control of a unit of 80 boys. He was appointed Deputy Headmaster in 1977 and in 1984 he was appointed Deputy Principal. The offences took place over a 17-year period. [30] Feb 16 2000 convicted on 10 counts, 4 of Buggery, 5 of Indecent Assault on a male, and 1 of committing Gross Indecency with a child, there were 6 victims. He was sentenced to a total of 15 years imprisonment.
John Robert Stafford Wright born 3rd August 1943 [30] Employed at the school between 1966 and early 1970 as a Housemaster. The offences took place over a 3-year
period between January 1966 and February 1969. Feb 16 2000 convicted on 6 counts, 2 of Attempted Buggery and 4 of Indecent Assault; there were 4 victims. He was sentenced to a total of 8 years imprisonment.
Neil Wardell [31] The applicant acquired the position of senior residential carer on 1st April 1985 when he moved there with his wife and baby. His family moved away as the marriage deteriorated. The applicant was arrested by South Wales police as part of a large operation in September 2002. In June 2003 he stood trial on a 22 count indictment, containing allegations by seven complainants of sexual and physical assaults, including seven buggery allegations. Whilst the applicant was convicted of the six offences referred to above and acquitted of the others, the jury could not decide on five allegations of buggery. This led to a retrial on these counts in July 2003 when he was eventually acquitted.
Leeds and Scotland []
RIP Phillip Knight and Leslie Clemence
Sedbury Park School Timeline
The school catered for up to 85 boys between 13 and 16, who were referred there by local authorities throughout the South West. [58]
1958 May – 1961 Jun Sweatman was employed as housemaster [58]
1960 May -July 1961 Two counts of indecent assault on a 16-year-old boy between May 1960 and July 1961 admitted to by Sweatman [61]
1973 -1986 Sedbury Park School was under local authority control from 1973 – 1986 [60]
1977 -1981 John B McCreadie, appears to have been Headmaster of Sedbury Park School at least from early 1977 [65] to 1981 [64]
1977 to 1984 Geoffrey Allen worked at school [67]
1977 April – Jun 1983 Nine charges against Geoffrey Allen involve four boys and are alleged to have occurred between April 1977 and July 1983 [67] [Two others involve one boy and are alleged to have taken place between November 1993 and November 1996 – where?] “Another former master at the school was charged on Monday with two offences of indecent assault on former pupils, one of whom is involved in this case [Who?]
1986 School closed [67]
1980-1987 National Archives Correspondence and related papers concerning the management of Sedbury Park School [62]
1991 Jun 27 David Hunt [24] the Secretary of State for Wales then directed Gwent County Council to inquire into the conduct and running of Ty Mawr. Gwent Council invited Williams and McCreadie to do the inquiry [p2]
1998 Operation Shogun, a joint investigation between Gloucestershire Constabulary and Social Services, originally began in 1998 [68]
2002 Jul 22 The Argus School sex trial may be transferred to Bristol [67] [and Needleblog with useful comments [59] ]
2003 Aug Sweatman Arrested [58]
2004 Mar Sweatman Charged [58]
2004 Apr Conviction of 66 year old man for indecent assault at Sedbury and 2 in worcester area [60]
2004 Apr [Original Source unknown] Paedophile teacher Geoffrey Allen jailed. [68] Allen was convicted of one count of indecent assault committed at the Sedbury home and two counts of indecent assault committed in the Worcester area and was sentenced to three and a half years imprisonment, and ordered to sign the sex offenders register for 10 years
2005 Oct 7 BBC Schoolmaster’s sex crimes on boy [58] Gerald Rex Sweatman in Court and plead guilty to 2 indecent assaults
2005 Dec Source Unknown No jail term for child sex abuser Gerald Sweatman [61] Sweatman (80) pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent assault on a 16-year-old boy between May 1960 and July 1961. He was given a one-year suspended sentence yesterday by a judge, who also ordered him to pay his victim, now aged 59, compensation of £4,000. Buggery and gross indecency charges were dropped after the guilty plea to indecent assault.
2005 Gloucestershire Police Chief Constables Report 2004-5 Operation Shogun Download [60]
2013 FOI Request Operation Shogun [63]
2015 FOI
Appendix 1 Notes on Inquiry Report
1992 Ty Mawr Community Home Inquiry Report 1992: Gareth Williams QC John McCreadie M.Ed Inquiry Solicitor Andrew Hopper, Susan Parnell Assistant Solicitor, Janet Davies shorthand [3]Ty Mawr Community Home Report [3] Part 1 [3a] Part 2 [3b] Part 3 [3c]
Terms of Reference and Summary of Recommendations
87 witnesses interviewed [p6]. For comparison they visited young offenders Institution at Onley near Rugby, Aycliffe Childrens Centre near Darlington, Kingswood Secure Centre near Bristol. Took expert advice from Professor Norman Tutt of Leeds and Dr Masud Hoghughi at Newton Aycliffe [p6]
Four Residential Units 1. Rowley Jones Hostel for older boys 2. Parker Hostel for younger boys 3. Intensive Care Unit ICU 4. Ty Croeso modern 5. Stepping Stones – semi independent living.
Home Office Approved School which passed to Breconshire County Council in 1971 and Gwent County Council on local government reorganisation in 1974. Managed by Gwent through its Social Services Department.
Principal Mr Christopher Phelan c. 1976 -1984, 1984- present (1991) Principal [p11] Deputy Principal Barry Alden 1968 Housemaster, Deputy Headmaster c.1976, 1984 Deputy Principal – dedicated and extremely competent administrator [p11]
27 residential care staff 9 each in Rowley Jones, Parker and ICU only 2 with social work qualifications [p11] Teaching Staff – Glyn Richards, P Evans, H Williams, C Guest, W Harman, M Nixon D Jeremiah [p12]. Also domestic anf office staff.
[WK Williams, Mr Alan Tandy, Mr Perkins -climate of fear]
Disturbingly high absenteeism of staff. No proper objectives for Ty Mawr and large mix of different people admitted.
1988/9 671 1989/90 1858 1990/1 1580 [p13] #
Admissions were mix of types [p14] #
Admissions Mostly from local E Valley, N E S Gwent, Newport, Mid Glamorgan, S. Glamorgan. A few further away Gwynedd 5 Clywd 2 Wolverhampton 1 Worcester 2 Powys 3 Dyfyd 8 Kent 1 mostly remands
Incidents
1. Summer Camp at Aberaeron Sept 1990 and anonymous allegations to newspapers of abuse of boys and sex between teachers. Inquiry found no sex went on. [How?] Petty thefts went on. Police rang Ty Mawr and the camp was abandoned on 22nd Sept. On return to school several boys made allegations of having been struck. The Inquiry found this to be slapping and cuffing and of minimal nature.
Mr Williams was suspended and left the social services department and refused to help the inquiry.
Mrs H heard allegations on local TV station. Report says she should have received counselling at a stressful time!
2. Rowley Jones Hostel Incident on 11/12 Jun 1991. Boys threw chairs, barricaded themselves in, then next day went on the roof and threw slates down and caused damage to make the building unusable [p23]
Report found no violence from staff, cause was inappropriate mix of admissions and inexperienced staff. There is nothing so simple as a single cause.
3. Hewitt Incident
Hewitt accused of slapping someone across face and pulling him by the ears. Boy absconded and came back a month later. Boy made complaint to police who found not enough evidence to prosecute. Hewitt only heard 26th Feb that CPS were not prosecuting. Report says Hewitt should have received counselling.
Secure Accomodation
Ty Mawr
1988 69 absconders 170 incidents
1989 66 absconders 188 incidents
1990 72 absconders 273 incidents
Complaints re Ty Mawr
Evidence from records, residents, solicitors, medical staff, staff, parents.
No indications that present or past residents were reluctant to speak. Concludes that there was overmasculine culture, some low level violence, slapping, cuffing, knuckles on the head, but that this was down to inexperienced staff and low morale. #
Suicides and attempted suicides
Phillip Knight – Is it significant that he had contact with Mr Alden immediately before one suicide attempt? need to include his sotry #+
Leslie C
Periods at Ty Mawr 19 June 1987 -7 Aug 1987, 3 – 20 Oct 1989, 28 Feb 1990- 6 Apr 1990, 27th July 1990 – committed suicide at place of work on 31 July 1991 [p40]
Aug 1990 locked himself in bathroom with can of fly spray and bleach in order to induce a fit? [p40]. Late Aug 1990 complained that another boy had tried to bugger him [p40]. Mr Alden, again! became so concerned that Ty Mawr was not equipped to deal with him.
Sept 7 took overdose and in hospital. A local paper had got hold of his accusations agaisnt Ty Mawr and felt he could be identified, and by Oct 7 he did not want it taken further.
Apr 1991 spoke to Dean Nelson of Independent, Jun 24 joined Welsh branch of NAYPIC,
Jul 31 dead
Report said Ty Mawr nor staff could be blamed.
Boy C case discussion 19 Aug 1988 – left Ty Mawr 19 Apr 1989. Sept 1989 injured in Russian Roulette [p44]
Boy D- no info on Ty Mawr
Boy E [p44] admitted Ty Mawr Feb – Oct 1984. Dec 1984 readmitted Oct 1985 overdosed on amphetamines
Boy F Nov 1984 – Feb 1985, March 1985- Feb 1986, amphetamines
Boy G Dec 1982 – July 1984, Aug 1984- Feb 1985, Mar 1985 – ? . 27 Sept 1985 G broke member of staff’s arm with pool cue
Boy H March 1989- Drank Windowlene Oct 1990. He was one who barricaded in Rowley Jones hospital Oct 1990, Nov 1990 told Director he was going to cut wrists. He was the object of sexual misbehaviour from an older man.
Boy I Nov 1988- ? Readmitted 1989 Discharged Dec 1990
Boy J Sept 1989 for one day. Readmitted 14 Oct
Boy K Oct 1984 – Jan 1986, Sept 1986- Aug 1987, Mar 1988- , readmitted Jun 1988 to Aug 1988, Worries about homosexuality with an older man! [p48] March 1987 absconded 3 times. Swallowed a razor blade. Nothing to found criticism of Ty Mawr.
Boy L Admitted July 1987, readmitted 29 Oct 1987 threatening to kill himself – 6 Nov 1987
Boy M Aug 1983-July 1984, April 1985 –
Boy N 1979-
Re self harm and suicides – Report concluded [p51] that Ty Mawr became the whipping boy in respect of these incidents. The instituion adn staff were being asked to dela with young boys in circumstances which were impossible.
SSI skipped over in one page, strange especially in light of suspect was ssi officer
Ticks off media about allegations need to be verified
Possible criticisms of staff – Mr Christopher Phelan, Mr WK Williams, Mr Alan Tandy, Mr Perkins misses out alden?
[Mr Harper][Mr Nixon] ??
Appendix 2 – Operation Flight FOI Request [21]
Appendix 2
FOI Request
Q1. What was the purpose, remit and terms of reference of the operation?
A1. In 1997 the South Wales Police commenced enquiries into both sexual
and physical abuse in a number of Children’s Homes in their area, this
enquiry was entitled “Operation Goldfinch 1”.
On the 5th of January 1998, a number of complaints of sexual and physical
abuse were received from South Wales Police, for investigation by the
Gwent Police.
As a result an Incident Room was set up and the enquiry entitled,
“Operation Goldfinch 2” (Flight). Since its inception the number of
complaints increased and a number of officers were conducting enquiries.
Operation Flight covered 31 establishments.
Operation Flight – Terms of Reference
(a) To fully investigate historic allegations of abuse relating to
children in care within the Gwent Police area preparing prosecution files
of evidence where required.
(b) Working within a multi-agency framework to identify as many victims as
possible to ensure as complete an enquiry as possible, thus eliminating
the need for any future investigations of this nature.
(c) Through a ‘Steering Group’ the SIO will keep all interested agencies
informed as to the progress of the investigation.
(d) To be the point of contact and administrators of the National
Historical Abuse Database.
(e) To be the Gwent point of contact with other forces conducting similar
investigations in other areas of the United Kingdom.
(f) To identify good and bad practice in all aspects of the principles of
“Working Together” relevant to the investigation of historical child abuse
and to disseminate this information.
The above initial terms of reference were subject to amendment as the
enquiry progressed.
Q2. What dates it ran?
A2. Operation Flight ran from approximately 1998 to 2003.
Q3. What results it achieved in terms of number of arrests, number
charged, number of convictions and for what offences for each?
A3. There are 176 suspects, 3 were convicted and the others are made up of
NFA (no further action), charged, acquitted, not guilty etc. Offences
included sexual and physical complaints.
Q4. Who the Police officer was in charge and how many officers were on the
operation?
A4. The Police Officer in charge of the operation at the time the Senior
Investigating Officer was Superintendent Ian Johnston and the Deputy
Senior Investigating Officer was Detective Inspector Llewellyn, however
over time there were many staff changes.
There were also a number of officers attached to the operation including
Police Officers (comprising of a DI, DS’s, DC’s and PC’s), Police Staff,
retired Police Officers, Social Services and Admin personnel.
There was a fully operating incident room which included an Office
Manager, a Statement Reader, Action Allocator, 3 Indexers, and a
Researcher.
It is quite difficult to put an exact number on the staff as there were
many changes over this period.
Q5. Why the operation was instigated?
A5. Please see answer one.
Q6. Where the operation was run from and what area did it cover?
A6. The operation was based and run from Abergavenny Police Station. The
establishments covered the areas of Newport, Blackwood, Caldicot,
Monmouth, Chepstow, Ebbw Vale, Abergavenny and Caerphilly, however
enquiries took officers country wide.
Appendix 3
[Assistant Chief Constable initially instigated Operation Goldfinch in conjunction with Head of CID Detective Chief Superintendent W Phillips. Detective Supertintendent was the appointed SIO [28]. It started from Cowbridge Police Station on 21 April 1997 [32] [33]. Detective Inspector G Tinnuche joined Goldfinch when it was almagamated with Operation Duffy and assumed overall command until the operation was concluded. 50 -60 police officers were seconded to Goldfinch [28].
Operation Duffy was started on 5 Sept 1996 from Canton Police station [28]. Duffy I think was started to investigate Taff Vale Childrens Home []]
Q7. Why was the name chosen and whether it had always had that name or
whether there were connected operations?
A7. Initially as a result of Operation Goldfinch 1 the Gwent Police
incident became Operation Goldfinch 2 and then changed to Operation
Flight. No Information is held as to why the name was changed.
Q8. Where this information is now kept, and in what form – physical or
electronic?
A8. The information in relation to Operation Flight is available to view
on an electronic database. There are also hard copies stored at Police
Headquarters.
“Everything is backwards; everything is upside down. Doctors destroy health, lawyers destroy justice, universities destroy knowledge, governments destroy freedom, the major media destroy information, and religions destroy spirituality.” – Michael Ellner
Links
[1] c. Nov 2013 Needleblog Operation Greenlight Ty Mawr Residential School, Gilwern, Nr Abergavenny https://theneedleblog.wordpress.com/operation-greenlight/wales/monmouthshire/ty-mawr-residential-school/
[2] 1991 June 2 The Observer via Spotlight Reign of terror lives on as cover-up starts https://spotlightonabuse.wordpress.com/2013/07/02/reign-of-terror-lives-on-as-cover-up-starts-2-6-91/
[3] 1992 Ty Mawr Community Home Report via Cathy Fox Ty Mawr Community Home Inquiry Report 1992: Gareth Williams QC John McCreadie M.Ed https://cathyfox.wordpress.com/2013/07/29/ty-mawr-community-home-report-1992-gareth-williams-qc-john-mccreadie-m-ed/
[3a] Ty Mawr Report Part 1 of 3 https://cathyfox.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/13064-ty-mawr-report-part-1-of-3-1.pdf
[3b] Ty Mawr Report Part 2 of 3 https://cathyfox.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/13064-ty-mawr-report-part-2-of-3-1.pdf
[3c] Ty Mawr Report Part 3 of 3 https://cathyfox.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/13064-ty-mawr-report-part-3-of-3-1.pdf
[4] Court of Appeal Alden see [30]
[5] 1991 Jun 20 Community Care Violent protest at Ty Mawr https://spotlightonabuse.wordpress.com/2013/08/19/violent-protest-at-ty-mawr-20-6-91/
[6] 1991 Aug 15 Community Care Ty Mawr victims ‘reluctant’ to give evidence at inquiry https://spotlightonabuse.wordpress.com/2013/08/19/ty-mawr-victims-reluctant-to-give-evidence-at-inquiry-15-8-91/
[7] 1992 Aug 4 Independent Ty Mawr report fails to satisfy home’s critics http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/ty-mawr-report-fails-to-satisfy-homes-critics-1538090.html
[8] 2000 Feb 8 BBC Approved school teachers jailed for abuse http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/645511.stm
[9] 2002 Aug 6 South Wales Argus New figures on perverts via Operation Greenlight https://webbrain.com/brainpage/brain/0FE31538-2121-8495-33A5-86073BE95DE1/thought/918#-4240
[10] 2000 Feb 17 The Mirror Horror of the Innocents: Perverts Guilty via Free Library http://www.thefreelibrary.com/HORROR+OF+THE+INNOCENTS%3A+PERVERTS+GUILTY.-a060290700
[11] 2000 Oct Forgotten Children Wolmar http://www.christianwolmar.co.uk/2000/10/forgotten-children-the-background-to-the-childrens-homes-scandals/
[12] 2001 Jan 8 Independent Jason Benetto Paedophilia: Beck’s appalling crimes just the tip of child abuse scandal – Further scandals may be revealed as inquiries show widespread cases via Spotlight re Operation Flight https://spotlightonabuse.wordpress.com/2013/02/26/paedophilia-becks-appalling-crimes-just-the-tip-of-child-abuse-scandal-further-scandals-may-be-revealed-as-inquiries-show-widespread-cases-8-1-01/
[13] 2002 Feb Parliament UK Submitted by Gwent Local Authorities Social Services Department http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200102/cmselect/cmhaff/836/836m28.htm
[14] 2000 Sept 14 Guardian Database links child abuse cases http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2000/sep/14/childprotection.society1
[15] 1999 Jun 19 New Statesman Richard Webster How Police Trawl the Innocent http://www.richardwebster.net/howthepolicetrawltheinnocent.html
[16] 2003 Sept 2 Wales Online Ex-housemaster jailed for assaults on pupils http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/ex-housemaster-jailed-assaults-pupils-2468728
[19] 2002 Jan 28 New Statesman The new injustices http://www.newstatesman.com/node/142082
[21] 2013 Dec What Do They Know FOI Request Operation Flight https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/operation_flight
[22] 2003 Sept 22 Independent Lord Williams of Mostyn Leader of the House of Lords and a reforming Attorney General http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/lord-williams-of-mostyn-37150.html
[23] 2015 Jun 10 accessed Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gareth_Williams,_Baron_Williams_of_Mostyn
[24] 2015 Jun 10 accessed Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Hunt,_Baron_Hunt_of_Wirral
[25a] Childhood matters: report of the National Commission of Inquiry into the Prevention of Child Abuse: volume 1: the report. National Commission of Inquiry into the Prevention of Child Abuse Published by The Stationery Office (TSO) (22 Oct 1996) ISBN 0113219970, 9780113219971 out of print £40 Author:Williams of Mostyn Gareth Wyn Williams Baron chairman 382 pages
[25b] Childhood matters: report of the National Commission of Inquiry into the Prevention of Child Abuse: volume 2: background papers. National Commission of Inquiry into the Prevention of Child Abuse Published by The Stationery Office (TSO) (16 Dec 1996) ISBN 0113219989 £35 Author:Williams of Mostyn Gareth Wyn Williams Baron chairman 304 pages
[26] 1994 Aug 10 Independent Child abuse inquiry launched: Wide-ranging investigation to shape policy on preventing attacks http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/child-abuse-inquiry-launched-wideranging-investigation-to-shape-policy-on-preventing-attacks-1382650.html
[27] 1994 Sep 8 The lawyer Lord Williams to chair child abuse inquiry The commission will act as an independent body and will also make recommendations for a national strategy to prevent child abuse http://www.thelawyer.com/5-september-1994/1812.issue
[28] 2013 Oct WhatDoTheyKnow FOI Request Operation Goldfinch/ Duffy https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/duffy_inquiry_taff_vale_children#incoming-486837
[29] 2013 Jul 29 Cathy Fox Blog Ty Mawr Community Home Inquiry Report 1992: Gareth Williams QC John McCreadie M.Ed https://cathyfox.wordpress.com/2013/07/29/ty-mawr-community-home-report-1992-gareth-williams-qc-john-mccreadie-m-ed/
[30] 2001 Feb 15 Barrie Owen Alden, John Robert Stafford Wright, Court of Appeal 15th February 2001 via Cathy Fox Blog 2015 Jun 11 https://cathyfox.wordpress.com/2015/06/11/barrie-owen-alden-john-robert-stafford-wright-court-of-appeal-15th-february-2001/
[31] 2004 Apr 29 Neil Wardell Court of Appeal [Ty Mawr] via Cathy Fox Blog 2015 Jun 12 https://cathyfox.wordpress.com/2015/06/11/neil-wardell-court-of-appeal-29th-april-2004-ty-mawr/
[32] 1997 Dec 16 Guardian via Spotlight on Abuse https://spotlightonabuse.wordpress.com/2013/07/03/paedophile-inquiry-at-33-homes-for-children-16-12-97/
[33] Operation Greenlight Brain Operation Goldfinch https://webbrain.com/brainpage/brain/0FE31538-2121-8495-33A5-86073BE95DE1/thought/918#-288
[34] 2001 Mar 13 BBC Housemaster on trial for sex assaults http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/1218121.stm
[35] 2002 Feb Hansard Operation Flight http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200102/cmselect/cmhaff/836/836m28.htm
[36] 2014 Mar 14 North Wales Residential Childcare Investigations – A Chronological View http://brynalynvictims.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/north-wales-residential-childcare.html
[37] 2001 Apr 13 More than 60 ex-members of staff at the former Ty Mawr children’s home in Gwent have been named as alleged abusers… http://aangirfan.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/child-abuse-arkansas-wales-james-hanna.html
[38] https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=114&v=FlULkFIqvzM
[39] http://www.christianwolmar.co.uk/2005/05/the-secret-of-bryn-estyn-the-making-of-a-modern-witch-hunt/
[40] 2001 Feb 27 Times Law Reports COURT OF APPEAL Criminal Division
Regina v. Alden Regina v Wright via cathyfox blog https://cathyfox.wordpress.com/2015/06/09/barrie-owen-alden-john-robert-stafford-wright-times-law-reports-court-of-appeal-27-february-2001/
[41] 2013 Dec 17 WhatDoTheyKnow Selina Scot Operation Flight FOI https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/operation_flight
[42] 2003 Sept 2 Wales Online Ex-housemaster jailed for assaults on pupils http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/ex-housemaster-jailed-assaults-pupils-2468728
[43] 2015 Mar 23 Needleblog The Consequence Of Leo Abse MP’s Amendment To ‘The Sexual Offences Act 1967′ https://theneedleblog.wordpress.com/2015/03/23/the-consequence-of-leo-abse-mps-amendment-to-the-sexual-offences-act-1967%E2%80%B2/
[44] 2003 Sexual Offences Act http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/contents
[50] 2001 Nov 7 Guardian Unlimited There are probably 20 convictions that I consider unsafe http://www.innocent.org.uk/misc/carers.html [relink to http://web.archive.org/web/20150831192710/http://www.innocent.org.uk/misc/carers.html ]
[51] c. > 2002 May Parliamentary Select Committee Publications 4th Report THE CONDUCT OF INVESTIGATIONS INTO PAST CASES OF ABUSE IN CHILDREN’S HOMES http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200102/cmselect/cmhaff/836/83603.htm#n1
[52] 2006 Oct 2 Wales Online Scandal of children’s homes abuse payouts http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/scandal-childrens-homes-abuse-payouts-2302947
[53] Trawling by the Gwent Police http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200102/cmselect/cmhaff/836/836m59.htm
[54] 2002 Jun 18 http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200102/cmselect/cmhaff/836/2061802.htm
[55] http://innocent.org.uk/misc/trawling.html
[56] 2002 South Wales Echo https://webbrain.com/brainpage/brain/0FE31538-2121-8495-33A5-86073BE95DE1/thought/918#-288
[57] Andrew Hopper Silk QC http://www.ahqc.com/
58] 2005 Oct 7 BBC Schoolmaster’s sex crimes on boy http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/gloucestershire/4320298.stm Gerald Rex Sweatman Court for serious sexual Assault
[59] 2002 Jul 22 Needleblog School sex trial may be transferred to Bristol https://theneedleblog.wordpress.com/operation-greenlight/south-west-england/gloucestershire/sedbury-park-school-for-boys/ Geoffrey Allen is a former teacher
[60] Gloucestershire Police Chief Constables Report 2004-5 Page 17 Operation Shogun Download https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&ved=0CCoQFjACahUKEwj4zvOmy4_IAhULWRoKHexhB4I&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gloucestershire.police.uk%2Fmedia%2F1242%2Fchief-constables-annual-report-2004-2005.pdf&usg=AFQjCNEVwUDfugkxxHN42_Zn4UEICfLVBA&cad=rja
[61] 2005 Dec Source Unknown No jail term for child sex abuser The original source is unknown but there is an unattributed copy here http://theukdatabase.com/2012/08/23/gerald-sweatman-yatechepstow/ Gerald Sweatman A retired school housemaster from Yate who admitted sexually abusing one of his teenage boy pupils at Sedbury Park School 45 years ago has escaped a prison term.
[62] National Archives Correspondence and related papers concerning the management of Sedbury Park School,… http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/rd/e6c21b04-3f71-487a-adf8-e126149c3fa1
[63] see [70] Operation Shogun https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/operation_shogun#incoming-470932
[64] 1981 Education Authorities Annunal 1981 via @snowfaked Mr J B McCreadie appears t0 have been Headmaster of Sedbury Park School, Chepstow around https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=vEocAQAAMAAJ&q=”Sedbury+Park+School,+Chepstow,+Gwent,+NP6+7EY.+Chepstow+3284/5+Headmaster:+J.+McCreadie”&dq=”Sedbury+Park+School,+Chepstow,+Gwent,+NP6+7EY.+Chepstow+3284/5+Headmaster:+J.+McCreadie”&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CB8Q6AEwAGoVChMI4ICwzMOPyAIVCVUaCh1a3QE3
[65] 1977 The Association, 1977 – Social service via @snowfaked Mr Mr J B McCreadie appears to be Headmaster inearly 1977 https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=-3kiAQAAMAAJ&q=”Mr+J+B+McCreadie,+Sedbury+Park+School,+Chepstow”&dq=”Mr+J+B+McCreadie,+Sedbury+Park+School,+Chepstow”&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CCAQ6AEwAGoVChMI6N_dueKPyAIVCV0aCh2fFwYI
[66]
[67] 2002 Jul 22 The Argus School sex trial may be transferred to Bristol http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/7694399.print/
[68] 2004 April Original Source unknown Paedophile teacher Geoffrey Allen jailed http://theukdatabase.com/2012/08/23/geoffrey-allen-worcesterchepstow/
[69] 2013 What Do They Know FOI Request Gloucestershire Police Press Release download https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/189464/response/470932/attach/4/Press%20Release.pdf
[70] 2013 WhatDoTheyKnow re Operation Shogun https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/189464/response/470932/attach/3/Response%205090.pdf the Senior Investigating Officers for the Operation were DI Peter Davis and DI Neil Kelly
[71] 2015 Sept WhatDoTheyKnow CathyFox FOI Operation Shogun to Gloucestershire County Council https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/operation_shogun_sedbury_park_sc
[72] 2002 Jul 17 Western Mail via the Free Library Former care worker in court on sex charges; GLOUCESTER: Magistrates send case to Crown Court. http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Former+care+worker+in+court+on+sex+charges%3B+GLOUCESTER%3A+Magistrates…-a089141103
[73] 2002 Jul 17 Community Care Former care worker in court on sex
charges http://www.communitycare.co.uk/2002/07/17/a-summary-of-social-care-stories-from-the-main-newspapers-4/
[74] 2014 Mar 15 The Press York Tribute to former head teacher John McCreadie, of Fulford http://m.yorkpress.co.uk/news/11079963.Tribute_to_former_head_teacher/ A FORMER head teacher from York has died after a year-long battle with cancer, aged 82. John McCreadie, of Fulford, passed away peacefully at The Beaumont Home in Stamford Bridge. He is survived by his wife Ann, three sons, Andrew, Douglas and Marcus, brother Terence, granddaughters Elizabeth, Fiona and Emily, grandsons Matthew and Alex and great-grandsons William and Edward. Mr McCreadie was head of The Royal Philanthropic Society School in Redhill, Surrey and later at Sedbury Park, Gloucestershire, but he also served as deputy director for social services for Gloucestershire County Council. His family said he would always by remembered for his fierce intelligence, quick wit and larger than life presence. “A devout Catholic, John’s strong faith sustained him throughout his life and provided immeasurable comfort toward the end of his journey,” his family said. The funeral is at 10.30am on Wednesday at St George’s RC Church in Peel Street, York.
[75] 2013 Chepstow and District Rotary Club Golden Jubilee Service above Self pdf download http://t.co/oQ3C2aOlEy In 1979 year Rotarian John McCreadie travelled to the Rotary Club of AltenkirchenHackenburg, Germany to discuss with them the possibility of twinning.
[76] Genes Reunited John B McCreadie http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/search/results?sourcecategory=birthsutf002c%20marriages%20utf0026%20deaths&firstname=john%20b&firstname_variants=true&lastname=mccreadie&birthyear=1932&birthyear_offset=2®ion=great%20britain
[77] WhatDotheyKnow FOI request Ty Mawr https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/gwent_council_report_of_the_revi#outgoing-482246
[77a] Gwent Council Director Social Services Report Ty Mawr https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/292178/response/713717/attach/3/Committee%20Report.pdf
[78] 1999 Sept 5 ITN CARDIFF: CHILDRENS HOME ABUSE: (HT @thewakeupcall09) http://www.itnsource.com/en/shotlist/ITN/1996/09/05/BSP050996007/?s=BSP050996007 a)NAT: (Bays,James) S WALES GV Building which was the former Taff Vale ) Cardiff Children’s Home PAN L-R to minibuses in ) ITN parking bay ) GV SIDE Former childrens home ) LMS Entrance to Taff Vale ) MS Childrens Home & grounds seen through trees) INT Bridgend MS SIDE Police PKF ) ITN CMS Det Supt Phil Jones(S Wales Police) PKF SOT) – during the period 1985-91 when the home ) ITN closed 400 boys moved through it/ 100 plus ) staff were employed at the home during that) period ) CMS John Jevons (Dir,Cardiff Social Services) ) reading statement SOT ) – we will be co-operating fully with the ) police so that whatever the outcome of the ) ITN investigation, any lessons to be learned ) from the past, can be applied to make sure ) that services to vulnerable children are of) the highest standard now & in the future ) STILL Geoffrey Morris (former care worker at Taff) Vale children’s home) Cardiff LAGV Cardiff Crown Court ) ITN EXT Bridgend 2-SHOT CS Deborah Jones (Voices from Care) intvw SOT ) – one of confusion/ being very wary of ) coming forward/ being mixed up about the ) ITN issues ) CMS Bays i/c SOT ) ITN TX 5.9.96/NAT b)C4N: (Sillem,Tanya) S WALES LMS Entrance to Taff Vale ) Cardiff GV SIDE Former childrens home ) HTV MS Childrens Home & grounds seen through trees) GV Building which was the former Taff Vale ) Children’s Home PAN L-R to minibuses in ) parking bay ) INT Bridgend CS Det Supt Phil Jones (S Wales Police) intvw ) SOT ) – the investigative team has been selected ) ITN & specially chosen for the skills that they) have/ one of the priorities will be to ) identify these people (now between 16 & 27 ) EXT Cardiff SEQ Cardiff Crown Court ) HTV (4 shots = 20 secs) ) CS Sillem i/c SOT ) ITN SEQ Cardiff Council building ) HTV (3 shots = 22 secs) ) INT Locn? CMS Rhodri Morgan (Labour Welsh Soc Services ) spokesman) intvw SOT ) – it has to be said that by tradition ) residential child care staff are underpaid,) under qualified, don’t stay very long & ) ITN very frequently because of those things ) attracts the wrong type of people, those of) a paedophile tendency ) EXT LAMS Welsh Office ) ITN WREXHAM SEQ Bryn Estyn children’s home ) TX 27.3.96/ ITN GRAPHIC Malcolm King (Fmr Chair, Social Services, ) Clwyd County Council) PHONO SOT ) – very common for child abusers in that ) ITN sort of position to have abused scores of ) children/ we see only the tip of the ice- ) berg in prosecutions ) GV Entrance to Taff Vale ) HTV MS Entrance ) TX 5.9.96/C4N c)NAF: (Bays,James) S WALES GV Building which was the former Taff Vale ) Cardiff Children’s Home PAN L-R to minibuses in ) ITN parking bay ) GV SIDE Former childrens home ) LMS Entrance to Taff Vale ) MS Childrens Home & grounds seen through trees) INT Bridgend MS SIDE Police PKF ) ITN CMS Det Supt Phil Jones(S Wales Police) PKF SOT) – during the period 1985-91 when the home ) ITN closed 400 boys moved through it/ 100 plus ) staff were employed at the home during that) period ) EXT 2-SHOT CS Deborah Jones (Voices from Care) intvw SOT ) – one of confusion/ being very wary of ) coming forward/ being mixed up about the ) ITN issues/ why its taken so long seeing it was) reported 5 years ago ) CMS Bays i/c SOT ) ITN TX 5.9.96/NAF
[79] Paedophile Geoffrey Morris (former care worker at Taff Vale children’s home) https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CrMj0lYXEAAKbr5.jpg
[80] 2013 Nov 11 Rebecca The Trials of Gordon Anglesea https://paddyfrench1.wordpress.com/2013/11/11/the-trials-of-gordon-anglesea/ re Gareth Williams reprsenting Anglesea
[81] date Needleblog Ty Mawr Residential School, Gilwern, Nr Abergavenny https://theneedleblog.wordpress.com/operation-greenlight/wales/monmouthshire/ty-mawr-residential-school/
- The Sanctuary for the Abused [A] has advice on how to prevent triggers.
- National Association for People Abused in Childhood [B] has a freephone helpline and has links to local support groups.
- One in Four [C]
- Havoca [D].
- Useful post on Triggers [E] from SurvivorsJustice [F] blog.
- Jim Hoppers pages on Mindfulness [G] and Meditation [H] may be useful.
- Hwaairfan blog An Indigenous Australian Approach to Healing Trauma [J]
- Survivors UK for victims and survivors of male rape or the sexual abuse of men [K]
- Voicing CSA group [L] helps arrange survivors meetings in your area
- A Prescription for me blog Various emotional support links [M]
- Fresh Start Foundation Scottish not for profit group, helping child sexual abuse victims & survivors [N]
[A] Sanctuary for the Abused http://abusesanctuary.blogspot.co.uk/2006/07/for-survivors-coping-with-triggers-if.html
Let justice be done though the heavens fall – Fiat justitia ruat cælum
cathy fox blog on child abuse 
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Reblogged this on circusbuoy.
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thanks cb
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some good reporting (finally) on this topic –
. . . and this story got picked up by The Sun and major media outlets . . .
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