Victims of alleged abuse drop case against Salford diocese

Former students of a Catholic college in Manchester who alleged that they were abused by its staff have dropped their lawsuit against Salford Diocese.

The men, former students of St Bede’s College in Whalley Range, alleged that the diocese failed to protect them from sexual abuse perpetrated by three priests, all of whom are now dead.

The case was expected to be heard at the High Court later this year. But according to the Manchester Evening News the claimants have decided to discontinue the action despite no out of court settlement being reached.

In a statement the diocese said that abusive behaviour “was against everything we stand for”.

The lawyer who represented the alleged victims, Kathleen Hallisey, Senior Associate with AO Associates, said that they were in the process of agreeing a formal apology from the diocese. Consequently she said she was “surprised” that Salford would release a statement to the press while these negotiations were ongoing, and added that she and the alleged victims looked forward to working with Justice Lowell Goddard as she continues her national inquiry into abuse.