Child abuse: Care home chief jailed 

 A principal of a Catholic-run care home has been jailed for 14
 years by a judge who described his crimes as one of the "worst
 cases of child abuse to ever come before the courts".

 James Carragher, 64, "systematically" abused vulnerable young
 boys at St William's Community Home in Market Weighton,
 Humberside, between 1969 and 1989, Sheffield Crown Court
 heard.

 The headmaster, who was known to the boys as Brother James,
 was found guilty of seven counts of buggery and 14 indecent
 assaults against 13 boys. His youngest victim was just 12.

 Carragher, who had been widely regarded as a leading authority
 on child welfare, had admitted to one indecent assault at the
 start of the trial.

 He also asked for further offences against two boys who were
 not on the indictment to be taken into account.

 Carragher, of Anlaby Road, Oxford, was sentenced earlier this
 month, but the case could only reported after the Crown
 Prosecution Service decided to offer no evidence against three
 former workers at the home.

 The devout Catholic, who was a member of the De La Salle
 Order, had already been jailed for seven years in 1997 after he
 pleaded guilty to abusing nine different boys at the home at Hull
 Crown Court.

 The jury heard during the 10-week trial how Brother James
 groomed the boys for sex with treats and affection at the
 isolated care home.

 William Harbage QC, prosecuting, said he did so knowing "there
 was little chance of getting caught".

 Victims were told to keep the attacks to themselves or face
 punishment - while others feared no-one would believe them if
 they complained.

 Press Association 
 Wednesday December 22, 2004 3:08 PM

© Copyright Press Association Ltd 2004, All Rights Reserved.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uklatest/story/0,1271,-4688086,00.html

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