Recent press releases confirmed that Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council have awarded £250,000 to 26 victims of the five children’s homes identified in an abuse scandal dating back to the 1970’s. The Beechwood home in Mapperley, Nottingham, was closed more than 8 years ago and was at the centre of the scandal.
According to the latest reports from the BBC, 80 victims have now been identified by the police as legal battles are ongoing.
The care homes in question have been split between the Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council who ran the homes separately at different times. Each case is being investigated on its own merits, according to the reports, with a number having settled so far without any admission of liability but on the advice from insurers and solicitors for the authorities.
The data surrounding payouts was uncovered following a Freedom of Information request from the BBC. Ten arrests have been made so far; seven of whom are not due to face any further action, and two are being investigated on suspicion of rape. One allegedly involved has since died.
It’s always terrible to hear of these kinds of travesties. In the latest report, a former victim named as Mr James Cleverley who is now aged 53, was abused in several of the homes. Understandably his life has been hard since the periods of abuse which has led to continual mental health and depression problems as well as criminal convictions, breakdowns, and social interaction difficulties.
The BBC report quotes that he has said “Every home I went to it seemed like they knew that I was the sort of lad that they could do that to, to abuse me. It seemed like a big paedophile ring.” He reportedly complained in the past to the police but he was never believed. He went on to say “They were supposed to be there to look after me, not to abuse me.”
Investigations and many of the legal cases for the victims who have come forward so far remain ongoing. Hopefully those who have suffered abuse will be awarded payouts that reflect the severity and nature of these cases, although we can sadly never turn back the clock. As a firm of specialist compensation lawyers, we’re used to representing victims of such claims and it is always a hard thing to do. You can never change what has happened.
