Council rejects criticism over sex abuse case

Ian Farquharson took his own life in 1992

A council has rejected criticism over the way it dealt with the legal proceedings relating to people who alleged they were abused by a teacher in one of its schools.

Dozens of former pupils of Formby High School on Merseyside are suing Sefton Council, claiming it failed to properly investigate allegations against Ian Farquharson.

Lawyers for the victims claimed it declined to accept liability in the majority of cases despite reaching a settlement with 16 out of 66 claimants.

A council spokesman said: "The council has great sympathy for these claimants and has engaged with each and every one to try and bring a resolution to their claims... 16 claims have been resolved already."

The spokesman added: "The suggestion that the council has refused to accept liability because Mr Farquharson is dead is incorrect.

"However, to take matters forward it does need the claimants to provide more information about their claims and the impact it has had upon them.

"The court has ordered the claimants to provide this information to the court and the council within the next six months.

"The council continues to engage with the claimants and to seek to bring these matters to a conclusion.”

Sefton Council denies it declined to accept liability for most of the abuse cases

Former pupils say Farquharson abused them at the school between 1975 and 1992.

He was charged but later cleared of gross indecency in 1980.

But it was alleged that he continued the abuse until his death in 1992.

After a complaint was made about him to the then-headmaster, he left the school premises and drove to Mold, North Wales, where he took his own life.

Solicitor Katherine Yates, who is acting for the victims, claimed on Wednesday: "The council, via their lawyers, say that as there was no conviction in the criminal court because of Farquharson’s suicide, they will not be admitting liability for the alleged abuse."