13-05-2025
'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.
