Abused man makes damages bid.Summary: A man who blames his tumultuous life on sexual abuse by a priest wins the right to claim damages. A former City lawyer who has blamed his failed career, drink problem and marriage breakdown on sexual abuse by a Catholic priest has won the right to claim for damages. Patrick Raggett claimed that he was subjected to years of "insidious insidious /in·sid·i·ous/ (-sid´e-us) coming on stealthily; of gradual and subtle development. in·sid·i·ous adj. Being a disease that progresses with few or no symptoms to indicate its gravity. " abuse by Father Michael Spencer Michael Alan Spencer (born 30 May 1955, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) is a British businessman; the founder and chief executive of ICAP plc, the world's largest interdealer broker. , a teacher at Preston Catholic College in Lancashire. He had a breakdown in 2005 after years of problems and through therapy linked these to his abusive Tending to deceive; practicing abuse; prone to ill-treat by coarse, insulting words or harmful acts. Using ill treatment; injurious, improper, hurtful, offensive, reproachful. childhood. He has now been given the go ahead to sue for Au5 million in damages after a High Court judge accepted Mr Raggett's evidence that he had been abused by Father Spencer who died in 2000 aged 76. The governors of the college, which closed in 1978, deny liability and say that, even if the abuse occurred, the case could not proceed as it was brought years outside the legal time limit. Mr Raggett, 50, of west London West London is the area of Greater London to the west of Central London. Although it is only ambiguously defined, it is one of the most economically active areas of London outside of the centre, containing significant amounts of office space along with Heathrow Airport and many of , told London's High Court that, while he was naked, the priest measured him "to chart his growth", filmed him performing exercises, photographed him and touched him inappropriately. Mr Raggett said after the hearing: "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. "This is not a case where I have simply sought revenge after a long time. Full awareness of the damaging effects of the sustained sexual abuse only surfaced in April 2005. "I want to urge others who are being or who were similarly mistreated to come forward. The Jesuit Order Noun 1. Jesuit order - a Roman Catholic order founded by Saint Ignatius of Loyola in 1534 to defend Catholicism against the Reformation and to do missionary work among the heathen; it is strongly committed to education and scholarship Society of Jesus , the Catholic Church generally, is still not accepting legal and moral responsibility for the dark virus of abuse in the way it should." Counsel said: "At no time before that date did he attribute his disabilities to Father Michael Spencer's really outrageous and disreputable dis·rep·u·ta·ble adj. Lacking respectability, as in character, behavior, or appearance. dis·rep behaviour and there is no reason why he should - this was not a violent or painful rape or assault; there was no overt Public; open; manifest. The term overt is used in Criminal Law in reference to conduct that moves more directly toward the commission of an offense than do acts of planning and preparation that may ultimately lead to such conduct. OVERT. Open. aggressiveness on the part of the priest." Independent Television News Limited 2009. All rights reserved. Independent Television News Limited 2009. All rights reserved. Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company |
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