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Court accepts City lawyer's claim of sex abuse by priest
Paul Cheston05.05.09
A former City lawyer today won a key battle in his claim for £5million damages when the High Court accepted he had been sexually abused by a Jesuit priest between 1969 and 1976.
In her judgment, Mrs Justice Swift also put aside the legal time limit on such cases- opening the way for many more people who claim they were abused to lodge claims.
Patrick Raggett, 50, criticised the failure of the Catholic Church to accept responsibility for the "dark virus of abuse" in its schools. He appealed for fellow victims of sex abuse by priests to speak out. Six people have already come forward after the Standard highlighted Mr Raggett's case on the eve of his action.
The judge accepted Mr Raggett's account of the abuse he suffered from Father Michael Spencer while he was a pupil at Preston Catholic College in Lancashire. A hearing will take place next year to decide how much compensation Mr Raggett will get.
Mr Raggett had told the court how he was terrified as the teacher, who died in 2000 aged 76, would film him naked and fondle and abuse him. He described how he was made to bend over backwards on a desk.
"I was paralysed with anguish and fear," he told the court. Mr Raggett, a litigation solicitor until the collapse of his career, bottled up all the violent emotions of fear, revulsion and self-loathing. He was so much in denial he invited Father Spencer to officiate at his wedding in 1991.
But in 2005 Mr Raggett suffered a breakdown, realising that his years of under-achievement at work, a failed marriage and binge drinking had been down to the abuse he suffered.
The judge said such delay "was not uncommon in cases of sexual abuse in which the complainant had to suppress his memories."
She added: "He had contrived to suppress many of the emotions associated with the abuse. His attitude was to make light of the incidents of abuse which he did recollect and to view Father Spencer with amusement and pity - even some affection."
Doctors say Mr Raggett suffered depression and post traumatic stress disorder. The governors of the college, which closed in 1978, had denied liability and said that even if the abuse had occurred, which it did not admit, the case should not proceed as it was brought years outside the legal time limit. Mr Raggett said outside court: "The most important aspect of this trial is that the people who allowed this to happen, and who were quite happy to see it swept under the carpet, have been held responsible at last.
"For all the warm words from the Jesuit Order about co-operating in this case, the reality is they fought it tooth and nail without regard for my feelings. There is a large gap between what they preach and the way they gave no quarter, even when experts agreed sexual abuse had occurred.
"This is not a case where I have simply sought revenge after a long time. I want to urge others who are being or were similarly mistreated to come forward.
"The Jesuit Order, the Catholic Church generally, is still not accepting legal and moral responsibility for the dark virus of abuse in the way it should."
Lawyers representing the defendants, the governors and the Society of Jesus Trust, asked for time to consider whether to appeal. The judge ordered them to pay £200,000 on account towards the final costs bill.
Mr Raggett now runs his own consultancy firm in Fulham.
Reader views (6)
Concerned, Caerleon South Wales, You are probably one of the lucky one who benefitted from the upside of the catholic order. The church has a history of producing good people. The problem is the church is not handling the crisis appropriately. This problem is not limited to the catholic church, but the way they address it is rather suspicous. They are strict with their training of priests and other stuff, bt when it comes to allegations , they operate a double standard. Its a woman who realises her husband has been abusing her daughter for years and years and has being in denial because he doesnt 'look' like a paedophile. It is real and creeping into the church. It should be handled appropriately. Move the gulity ones to some asylum up in Rome or allow them to get married. I dont know which is best, let them do a proper DAMAGE CONTROL and state they wont tolerate this behaviour and take steps towards excommunicating offenders. Otherwise WHO IS FOOLING WHO??? This is a very sensitive subject!!!
- Emmanuella, Portugal
I am sorry to read these responses and amazed to see the extent of distrust in the clergy. I went to catholic schools and teacher training college and never had any problems. I am not aware fellow students did either (but I suppose I wouldn't know). It is hard for the church to believe its clergy could be capable of this and so I suppose there is a tendency to think the victim is acting maliciously and without cause, but how does a priest defend himself against a false accusation? The implications for ministry must be that a priest should not work without a chaperone, much in the way that nuns from certain orders may only leave the convent in the compnay of another nun.
- Concerned, Caerleon, South Wales
I suffered a single event sexual abuse at school and suffered with drug abuse, binge drinking, self hatred and loathing for 16 years before the stress this caused me led me to become very ill. I am now fully recovered but completely empathize with Patrick. It can take years to fully realize the deep seated psychological damage that such nasty events can do to your perspective on life. i think Patrick is extremely courageous. If I knew the guy that abused me was dead, then maybe I too would feel brave enough to go make a claim in a court. Maybe I will bring this man to justice now.
- Anon, London
A total breach of trust! The Roman Catholic Church, and, the response to allegations/proof of paedophile priests is nothing short of disgraceful, and, an abrogation of its responsibilities to the most vulnerable members of the church. The Roman Catholic Church is rotten from the top down, and, has proven to be so on the many, many occasions in the many countries around the world where paedophile priests have been exposed.The church has always organised covered ups, relocated priests to different parishs for them to continue their henious activities unabated, without a care for the victims! How can any church or religious order have any credibility were it guilty of such a crime?
- Kevin Sullivan, Roehampton, London.
It seems to me his education set him in good stead he was and is a successful business man, being the owner of his own consultancy firm!
He waits until this Priest is dead, so that he can't defend himself, before making these accusations. Surely the fact that he asked the priest to officiate at his wedding is proof that he is bringing this action in order to try to get money.
- Des Egan, london
Go to Nigeria and see cases of sexual abuse not being reported. It is almost a way of life. The woman dares not complain otherwise she will be blamed for 'causing' the abuse. Rape is not easily admitted in Nigeria. It is seen as shame to admit you got raped. This catholic church in Nigeria has particpants abusing and seducing both boys and girls and it is all swept under the carpet. The sexual tension in these orders make them loose their minds and therefore commit this crime. Aids, STDs, psychological traumas are amongst what happens afterwards, but being Africans that we are, we just let it go and move on. No one dares 'touch the annointed' or come forward. The survival mentality makes people just shut up and move on. I know what is going on, but what can I do??? How can you tell your father you got abused by the local parish priest. He'll die of heart attack. or your mum, she will not even believe you...or even members of the church, they'll say its your fault. The society will condemn you and even destroy your family for defaming a son of the soil. This is not about the monetary compensation, what sort of life do you lve afterwards. The catholic church needs to stop being in denial. As I attend mass everyday, I watch them and I wonder who they may have abused or seduced previously and getting away with it. It makes me sick!!! I dont receive communion anymore for fear of receiving from hands that have abused....I am a victim. But I guess I'll just keep my mouth...
- Amaka, Enugu, Nigeria
