Five former pupils of St William’s residential school in Market Weighton have launched a compensation claim at the High Court over historic abuse that they claim took place there.
The Yorkshire school, which was run by the De La Salle Brothers, closed in 1992. It provided residential care and education for boys aged 10 to 16 with emotional and behavioural problems.
More than 200 men claim they were abused at St William's over a twenty-one year period, from 1970-1991.
The former principal, James Carragher, is already in jail for sex offences against children at the home, as is former chaplain Anthony McCallen, who was convicted of 11 charges including a serious sexual offence. If the compensation claim succeeds, the eventual payout could run into millions of pounds.
Solicitor David Greenwood, who is acting for those claiming compensation, told the BBC St William's was "the biggest single home where boys were abused" that he had seen.
A spokesman for the De La Salle Order said: "We repeat our total condemnation of the serious criminal behaviour of James Carragher, a former member of the De La Salle Brothers, during his time on the staff at St William's.
"We condemn, without reservation, any action or behaviour which harms young people.
"We deeply regret what happened at St William's and the harm that was done there through the behaviour of James Carragher. We unreservedly apologise to all who have been affected by his behaviour. Our hearts go out to all victims of abuse and their families."
A spokesman for the Diocese of Middlesbrough said: "Abusive behaviour has absolutely no place in the Catholic Church, or anywhere in society, and is against everything we stand for."
The case is expected to last three weeks at the High Court in Leeds.
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