Latest news with #FatherJames
BBC News
19-05-2025
- BBC News
Ampleforth College monk found guilty of abusing pupils
A monk who admitted having crushes on adolescent boys has been found guilty of sexually abusing two pupils at a North Yorkshire public housemaster Michael James Callaghan, 71, worked at Ampleforth College, a prestigious private Catholic boarding school which charges about £40,000 a year for Crown Court heard his offences took place between 1994 and of Moortown, Leeds, was found guilty of one count of sexual assault related to a 17-year-old pupil and 12 charges of indecent assault connected to a pupil aged between 14 and 18. The court heard how Callaghan, who was known as Father James, groomed and repeatedly indecently assaulted one boy over three years in the 1990s. He sexually assaulted a 17-year-old in 2013 by squeezing his bottom during a were told he "ingratiated himself" with the first victim by giving him cigarettes and buying him gifts. 'It wasn't right' The complainant told police the "sexual bit" of their relationship had started when he was under 16, with Callaghan kissing said Callaghan would ask to meet him at different locations, including guest rooms at the complainant said in his police interview that Callaghan would "take on the role of a boy I had a crush on" and they would kiss and simulate sex, telling officers he "hated the sexual bit of it" and realised as an adult it "wasn't right".He told police: "He had been grooming me for three years. There's a difference between welcoming someone's affections and the other things that were going on in that room."The defendant admitted having some sexual contact with the boy but claimed it was consensual and only after he turned 16, telling jurors the relationship was "unusual but not criminal".But the prosecution said it "was not consent given freely by someone who had a real choice". In his closing speech to jurors, prosecutor Mark McKone KC said: "The defendant is massively watering down what he did."He is trying to put a gentle gloss on something very sinister indeed."Mr McKone said both victims were "still struggling now" with what he trial heard that Callaghan had confessed to a doctor in 1990 that he had crushes on "a number of boys" at a previous school, but "by and large had managed to control himself".A letter from the doctor said: "When I first saw him he was rushing after adolescent boys he saw in the street."The court was told Callaghan went to see the same doctor again in 1993 and said he was having "more difficulty in controlling the sexual side of his life". In 2018, the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse found there had been a "culture of acceptance of abusive behaviour" at Ampleforth watchdog Ofsted graded the college as "good" in an inspection in late 2024, a Charity Commission inquiry concluded children had been exposed to the risk of sexual commission started an inquiry into the two trusts responsible for the running of Catholic private school Ampleforth College and neighbouring Ampleforth report found, external "significant weaknesses" in the safeguarding, governance and management of the St Laurence Educational Trust (SLET) and the Ampleforth Abbey Trust (AAT).Judge Richard Clews bailed Callaghan until his sentencing in June, and told him: "These are serious offences involving a considerable breach of trust."It is highly likely the only realistic sentence available to me will be immediate imprisonment." Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Daily Mail
13-05-2025
- Daily Mail
'Cool monk' had key cut for room at £43,000-a-year private boarding school where he sexually abused boys, court hears
A 'cool monk' at a prestigious Catholic boarding school allegedly had a key cut for a room he used to sexually abuse a young pupil, a court has heard. Michael James Callaghan, known as Father James, is on trial accused of sexually abusing two students while he was a teacher and housemaster at £43,000-a-year Ampleforth College in North Yorkshire. The 71-year-old was known among pupils at the top independent school as a 'cool monk' who would often treat pupils to shopping trips, dinners and even outings in his car. Standing trial at Teesside Crown Court, Callaghan is alleged to have indecently assaulted one boy 12 times over three years, aged between 14 and 18, in the 1990s, after making him feel 'special'. Opening the case to jurors on Monday, prosecutor Mark McKone KC said the complainant told police the 'sexual bit' had started when he was under 16, with Callaghan kissing him. Mr McKone said Callaghan took the boy on 'frequent' outings in his car, taking him shopping in York and for a pub lunch, even giving the alleged victim a silver cigarette box as a birthday gift. He also said that the former teacher would ask the boy to meet him after Mass on Saturday evenings at different locations, including guest rooms. Described as a 'cool monk', Michael James Callaghan, 71, known as Father James, is on trial accused of sexually abusing two pupils while he was a teacher and housemaster at £43,000-a-year Ampleforth College (pictured) in North Yorkshire Standing trial at Teesside Crown Court, Callaghan is alleged to have indecently assaulted one boy 12 times over three years, aged between 14 and 18, in the 1990s, after making him feel 'special' and even having a key cut for the boy for a room intended for the homeless (Pictured: Ampleforth College) At one point, Callaghan even allegedly got the young boy a key cut for a room at the school that was intended for homeless individuals. The alleged victim told police there was 'lots of hugs, lots of touching, I was made to feel really special'. In his police interview, he said that Callaghan would 'take on the role of a boy I had a crush on' and they would kiss and simulate sex. He told officers he had been 'guilt tripped' into going to see Callaghan and remembered 'feelings of "I don't really want to be held like this''. Having 'been in survival mode' for more than 20 years, the complainant said that it was only when he reflected on the ordeal with 'with adult eyes' that he had realised 'Oh my God, that wasn't right', jurors heard. Asked by police if he had ever said he did not want these things to happen, the complainant said: 'I was in a really bad place, I was going through hell at school...I hated the sexual bit of it, where possible, I would just avoid it'. In December 2022, 30 years on from the alleged abuse, the complainant spoke to police about his ordeal, eventually bringing the allegations against Callaghan to light. Callaghan is charged with 12 counts of indecently assaulting the first complaiant, with four alleged to have occurred while under 16. He is also accused of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old boy in 2013 by grabbing his bottom after going to give him a hug. He denies all charges (Pictured: Ampleforth College) The court heard that Callaghan had admitted to having 'some sexual activity' with the first alleged victim, 'but only after he was 16 and only with his consent'. Mr McKone said: 'Whatever (the complainant's) age, this was not true consent - this was not consent given freely by someone who had a real choice.' Callaghan is charged with 12 counts of indecently assaulting the boy, with four alleged to have happened when he was under 16. These include making the complainant perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation during roleplay, where Callaghan pretended to have a heart attack on at least four occasions. The defendant is also accused of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old boy in 2013 by grabbing his bottom after going to give him a hug. Mr McKone told jurors that the second alleged victim had described Callaghan as a 'cool monk who was popular' and also informed police that the teacher had invited him for a glass of wine at one point, which he declined. At a later point, the alleged victim interviewed Callaghan for a project. Afterwards, as he was heading towards the door, the teacher stopped him and 'tightly groped him', leaving the young boy 'shocked'. The prosecutor stated that the alleged sexual assault was 'serious enough for him to complain about it to the police' and that he was 'still affected by it many years later'. Callaghan, who said that he remembered the second boy, described him as 'a bit odd'. While he insisted that he could not remember the incident, he was almost certain that he would have given the complainant a hug as it was in his 'nature' to do so. Callaghan, of Moortown, Leeds, denies all charges against him. The trial continues.
BBC News
12-05-2025
- BBC News
Ampleforth College monk accused of abusing two pupils
A monk at a North Yorkshire public school has gone on trial accused of sexually abusing two housemaster Michael James Callaghan, 71, worked at Ampleforth College, a private Catholic boarding school, and was known as Father Teesside Crown Court, prosecutors say the alleged offences took place between 1994 and Callaghan denies a charge of sexual assault related to a 17-year-old pupil and 12 charges of indecent assault connected to a pupil aged between 14 and 18. Opening the prosecution case, Mark McKone KC told the court one pupil was first assaulted when he was 14 and disclosed the abuse to his sister 25 years the words of the former pupil with the court, Mr McKone said: "I was in a really bad place, I was going through hell at school, I was 200 miles-plus from my nearest family."I hated the sexual bit of it."A second man alleges he was sexually assaulted when he was 17 and Mr Callaghan was in his late case continues. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
