Latest news from the CRIN, the Child Rights Information Network. http://www.crin.org/resources/news/rss.asp en-gb Copyright: (C) Child Rights Information Network 2001 - 2013 Thu, 23 May 2013 03:46 PM GMT CRIN http://www.crin.org/i/design/crinlogo_rss.gif http://www.crin.org UK: Church accused of abuse cover-up

Date: 26 April 2007

<p>[25 April 2007] - The Church of England has been accused of covering up child sex abuse carried out by a former choirmaster. </p><p>Peter Halliday will be sentenced after pleading guilty to sexually abusing boys in Hampshire in the late 1980s. </p><p>BBC News has learned he admitted to the offences 17 years ago but left the Church quietly on condition he had no more contact with children. </p><p>The bishop who dealt with the case told BBC News it would have been dealt with differently if it had happened today. <!-- E SF --></p><p>In 1990 a young chorister at St Peter's Church, Farnborough, told his parents his choirmaster had abused him repeatedly during a period of several years, and he was not the only victim. </p><p>His parents told the vicar, who consulted the bishop - but rather than call the police the churchmen advised Halliday he should leave quietly and agree to have no more contact with young children. </p><p>The bishop, David Wilcox, said they had sought to act in the best interests not only of the Church but of the family and everybody concerned at the time. </p><p>He told BBC News: &quot;The Church took firm actions in this case. </p><p>&quot;Things were very different then and I think that we make the mistake of trying to read back what we now know and how we would now do things. </p><p>&quot;I don't think we had that knowledge or that experience and I don't think the court systems and the police systems were geared up as they are today.&quot; </p><p><strong>School work</strong> </p><p>However, Halliday continued to work with young boys, as a singer with the Royal School of Church Music. </p><p>One of his former choristers saw him in 1993 at a residential cathedral course and told a member of staff, but no action was taken. </p><p>It was only when Halliday was charged last year with indecently assaulting children that he gave up his work with the school. </p><p>In a statement, the Church of England said it was committed to the safeguarding, care and nurture of the children within the church community. </p><p><strong>Further information:</strong></p><ul><li><div><a href="http://www.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?ID=4882&flag=legal">Sexual Abuse of Children by Members of the Roman Catholic Church in the Republic of Austria</a>&nbsp;(10 December 2005)</div></li><li><div><a href="http://www.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?ID=10454&flag=news">Bishops condemn BBC child abuse claim</a>&nbsp;(2 October 2006)</div></li></ul><ul><li><a class="undefined" href="http://www.crin.org/violence/index.asp" target="_self">CRIN's website on children and violence</a></li></ul><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

Last updated: 26 April 2007

 http://www.crin.org/resources/infodetail.asp?ID=13174 Thu, 26 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT