Ex-pupils claim teacher abuse spanning three decades

Paul Carter, Steve Boulton and Dickie Felton have spoken out about their memories during their time at St Mary's College

A group of former pupils are taking legal action against a prestigious private school over allegations of what they say was terrifying physical abuse spanning over three decades.

Four ex-pupils of St Mary’s College and the Mount Prep School in Crosby, Merseyside, as it was formerly known, are taking civil action against the school for significant physical harm over alleged beatings by teachers during their time.

One former pupil told the BBC he feared he would be killed during one of the "sadistic beatings", as others described "excessive and unjustified" attacks at the hands of teachers and spending every day "in fear".

A spokesperson for the school said they were "saddened to hear of these serious allegations" but added it was "very difficult for those of us who run the college today to make any informed comment".

St. Mary’s College and Preparatory School were run by the Christian Brothers until entire control was handed over in 2006

The allegations relate to the 1960s up to the mid 1990s while the Christian Brothers were in charge.

St Mary's College was established more than 100 years ago by the Christian Brothers, a Roman Catholic lay congregation founded in 1802 to educate youngsters.

The Christian Brothers handed over complete control of the school, now known as St Mary's College and St Mary's Preparatory School, in 2006.

Four former pupils have described attacks they were subjected to at the hands of teachers and a headmaster, who have all since died, during their time there.

One of the complainants, who wishes to remain anonymous, was at the school until the 1990s.

He said he was routinely beaten by the late Brother Kelly from the age of five.

He said Mr Kelly inflicted "sadistic beatings" and "not just the occasional strap" with one attack leaving him fearing for his life.

"I was kicked, punched, kicked along the floor. At one point I thought he was going to kill me."

Mr Kelly even turned up at his home to compound his terror, he said.

"The way he... smirked at me it was as if [he could] even get to you in your house."

Dickie Felton said he "hated every single second" of his time at St Mary's College

Dickie Felton was a pupil at the school in the 1980s and "hated every single second" of it.

He said an assault by Mr Kelly had a profound affect on him.

"It was so bad I urinated on myself. I was stood in front of the class and I was peeing my pants because I was terrified."

He added: "That was one of the main memories of my childhood."

Steve Boulton is not involved in the legal action but said he also suffered at the hands of other brothers.

"The most notorious of the beaters of my generation was the late Brother Brickley. We lived in absolute terror of him."

He said the beatings - carried out with a leather strap with metal sewn in - continued for decades after he left in the 1960s.

Mr Boulton said his punishment went beyond physical violence.

At the age of 12 he said he was made to strip down from the waist and lie across the lap of his head teacher Brother Francis who has since died.

"There is no excuse for asking a boy to take his clothes off in front of a grown man," Mr Boulton said.

Steve Boulton says his punishment went beyond physical violence

Paul Carter was there during the same era having passed the 11+ exam and was given a scholarship.

He said it was time the frequent "excessive and unjustified violence" was put on record.

"I do know of people who had a similar and worse history to me, but who have died or have got dementia now.

"So in a sense I feel some obligation to speak up for them," he said.

Corporal punishment was banned in state schools in 1986 and in independent schools in 1998.

Andrew Lord, a senior associate solicitor for Leigh Day, said these were not cases "where somebody got caned for bringing in homework late or getting answers wrong".

"The effort members of staff appeared to have gone to, to harm children, to hurt them, to intimidate them and cause them fear goes beyond corporal punishment," he said.

Paul Carter said it was time the "excessive and unjustified violence" was put on record

Merseyside Police said allegations of physical abuse by some staff at the school were investigated in 2018.

The Crown Prosecution Service has been contacted by the BBC.

In 1998, the Christian Brothers issued an unprecedented public apology for abuse inflicted over the years across its various institutions.

The Christian Brothers said: "The congregation of Christian Brothers is aware of the allegations being made by a number of ex-pupils of St Mary’s College and The Mount Prep School in Crosby.

"In view of the prospective legal actions arising from these allegations, it is not possible or appropriate to comment on individual details except to say the congregation takes all allegations of abuse seriously and sincerely regrets any and all forms of abuse that may have been committed on anyone who attended St Mary's or The Mount."

A St Mary’s College spokesperson said: "We are saddened to hear of these serious allegations and the former pupils who have made them have our sympathy and support.

"However, because the alleged events date from well before 2006, when the management of St Mary’s was transferred from the Christian Brothers to a new separate charitable trust, it is very difficult for those of us who run the college today to make any informed comment.

"Clearly staff from the period in question have long since left and in many cases may no longer be alive, and in the intervening period the culture of the college has changed beyond all recognition, as it has in schools in general over the past half a century or so.

They added: "We are not currently aware of any police involvement, but if an investigation ensues we would of course give officers any assistance they might need."