After several long months of waiting, I am pleased to see that the Manchester Evening News has finally published something about the horrifying abuse reported as being perpetrated against children by Monsignor Thomas Duggan, the Rector of St Bede's College between 1950 and 1966 ('Church says sorry over sex abuse claims', Manchester Evening News, 15 March 2011). However, I note that it has taken the Diocese and the Bishop of Salford an extraordinary long time to make any public
announcement about these events.
I say "an extraordinary long time", because it was already very clear from information available since autumn 2010 that rumours about Monsignor Duggan have been circulating amongst priests in the Salford Diocese for more than twenty years. For example, Father Barry O'Sullivan, the Coordinator of the Salford Safeguarding Commission, told representatives of some of Duggan's many victims at a meeting on 10
September 2010, "I wasn't surprised to get your report. ... Because I've been a priest for 23 years. I've heard stories for 23 years about Duggan; on the golf course or on retreats" (see http://www.mediafire.com/?se3udyzz3jql7gr; Father O'Sullivan's statement comes approximately 20 minutes into the recording).
Father O'Sullivan has been the Child Protection / Safeguarding Coordinator in the Diocese of Salford since 2001 and admits to hearing "stories" about Monsignor Duggan, since 1987. So, why has the Diocese waited until 2011, before acknowledging the pain and distress suffered by those affected?
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Why did it take until 2011 when they had "heard stories about Duggan for 23 years"?
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4 comments:
Why did it take so long? A culture of denial? I too was abused by him.
Many thanks for your comment.
What a can of worms has been opened, but how far will we get down the road to justice for all the boys whose lives have been blighted by the evil Tommy Duggan? Just the name makes you want to spit!
I can go back to 1950 to the first time TD touched me. I had been sent to his study by my teacher(a priest)for talking in class. Capital offence in 1950. To be bare bottomed spanked and touched was mind boggling to a just 10 year old. Only my father could do that!
Of course in those days boys were always 'liars' and 'dirty little boys' anyway.
My father actually spanked me for telling lies about Duggan. He was a devout catholic and could not believe any ill of the church.
Later when my father later realised I had be telling the truth, through another unrelated incident that left him devastated and with me never been punished ever again.
After the worst and last incident and at last my father knew the truth he confronted the bishop and Duggan in his study.
But it was still a 'no-win' situation as I left the school with my father and the horrible Geoff Burke told everyone the I had 'been expelled for bringing the reputation of the school into disrepute'.
And Duggan carried on till 1966 protected by the church.
So the diocese and several different bishops and senior clery knew exactly what was going on because they had constant compliants about TD over the years.
The claim they only knew '23 years ago' is a joke. They have known about TD since at least 1950 and who knows if he abused boys earlier than that?
There must have been priests and teachers who when sending boys up to Duggan knew what might happen to them in that room of evil.
Why have so many people, priests,teachers and many of the abused boys remained silent for so long? The cover-up has been going on for 61 years now!
Finally things are coming out, thanks to Paul Malpas who is leading,often alone, the charge against the Evil that was Duggan.
And we are not just talking about a few boys but a staggering number!
Even the 'media' have not given this story the coverage it needs, funny when they always seem to love pulling people down. In Duggan's case why so recitent?
If you were abused by Duggan or anyone else at Bede's contact Paul through 'paulmalpas' on the web.
Thanks Anonymous. Your comment shows all too clearly that there is no excuse for the failure of the Diocese of Salford and successive bishops to deal with this scandal.
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