Lindsay Brown - the marrying type?
Thomas
Shame Of Bible Bashing Child Abusing Pervert
Bangor County Down Ulster, Northern Ireland UK United Kingdom
Case Study of a Fixated Paedophile
Lindsay Brown, the vice principal of Bangor Grammar School and founder of
the Scripture Union in Northern Ireland was convicted in February 1998 of
abusing boys over three decades. The subsequent government inquiries by the
Dept of Education into Bangor Grammar School revealed appalling handling of
a sex abuser. This forced new guidelines to be introduced in March 1999.
The site below has connections to the government reports
http://www.zyworld.com/bangorgrammar/Home.htm
More links at the end of the page
It is always the offender that is 100% responsible for child sexual abuse.
Child sexual abuse is NEVER, not in whole or in part, the child's "fault."
Informed consent is not possible in children.
This web page is a systematic psychological approach to a man convicted of
child sexual abuse using a commentary based on Wyre's Characteristics of a
Fixated Paedophile (1987) Lindsay Brown, the vice principal of Bangor
Grammar School in Northern Ireland was convicted in February 1998 of abusing
9 boys over three decades (1968 -1981, a case from 1991 remains to be
retried).
Brown was extremely devious in grooming boys for abuse and also very
opportunistic in choosing when to molest. Brown was described in court as a
"Jekyll and Hyde" character by one of the boys he abused. Brown did a lot of
"good" work running camps and being a "friend." His religious work and his
status as a church elder and the brother of the Moderator of the
Presbyterian Church, made it very difficult for many people to come to terms
with his crimes. Ultimately those in denial cannot protect.
Brown is a classic example of a career paedophile, in varying degrees, he
exhibits almost all of the characteristics of Wyre's definition of a fixated
paedophile.
References are included as abbreviated footnotes for convenience and in full
at the end of the essay.
The case of Brown was extensively reported in the media, the main coverage
is outlined as an appendix in note 3.
The case led to a government inquiry which reported in August 1998 the main
conclusions are outlined in note 4.
This was followed by the Minister for the Department of Education NI, McFALL
announcing NEW ARRANGEMENTS FOR PROTECTING CHILDREN on 8 March 1999,
outlined in note 5. Use was also made of Brown's statements to the police
and evidence presented at his trial.
Northern Ireland Overview The RUC has a special unit in Northern Ireland to
deal with sex abuse and the abuse of women. That child welfare unit has 55
detectives, six inspectors and 11 sergeants who are engaged full time in
trying to apprehend and bring before the courts those who are guilty of
abuse of children, in particular sex abuse. In Northern Ireland in 1995
there were 229 rapes; in 1996, 264 rapes; in 1995, 20 young males, boys
under 14 years of age, and 50 young girls under 14 years of age were raped.
In 1996, 45 young girls under the age of 14 years were raped in Northern
Ireland. In 1995, 692 women had been abused. Of those 692, 157 were young
girls between the ages of six and 10 years. In 1996 there were 764 reported
cases of abuse, and 199 were committed against young girls between the ages
of six and 10 years. 12 incest cases in 1995--fathers and daughters. In 1996
again 12 incest cases. Those figures relate to a small population of 1.5
million. Home Office statistics show that in 1995 for the UK, by the age of
40, 0.7 per cent. of men had a conviction for a sexual offence that had a
child victim. In other words, in 1995 110,000 men had, by the age of 40,
been convicted of an offence against a child aged under 16.
The FBI profiler Roy Hazlewood developed a methodology of profiling sex
offenders with such such success that it has been described as "uncanny
accuracy." This essay is an attempt at a similar systematic analysis of a
fixated paedophile using Wyre's guidelines. The "uncanny accuracy" is that
information gathered investigatively and labelled subjectively upon further
analysis could be more objectively labelled using Wyre's characteristics.
Even where a characteristic is not present directly, it can be strongly
indicative of similar activity. A subtler variation on using adult
pornography was to discuss the trade side of adult pornography in Soho.
The case of Brown was extensively reported in the media, the main coverage
is outlined as an appendix at the end of the essay in note 3. The case led
to a government inquiry which reported in August 1998 the main conclusions
are outlined in note 4. This was followed by the Minister for the Department
of Education NI, McFALL announcing NEW ARRANGEMENTS FOR PROTECTING CHILDREN
on 8 March 1999, outlined in note 5. Use was also made of Brown's statements
to the police and evidence presented at his trial.
This isn't an attempt to assess the consequences for those who were abused,
psychiatric assessments presented at the sentencing indicated that there
were enduring consequences for the men who were abused as boys, many more
men will be dealing with the consequences in silence.
Conclusion Although this essay is, in effect, imputing the motives of a
fixated paedophile onto Brown, it would be outside the scope of this essay
to fully attempt to analyze Brown's cognitive distortions. Nor is it really
possible to know "what" Brown obtained from sexually abusing boys. However
the centrality of power as a motivation for abuse can be clearly
demonstrated. Hazelwood's first basic type of rapist are what he terms the
common "power reassurance rapist," who wants only to prove his masculinity
to himself. The comparison with the motivation of a sex offender like Brown
is clear. The sexual gratification of the abuser is inextricably linked to
the power the abuser has over the abused.
Brown was extremely devious in grooming boys for abuse and also very
opportunistic in selecting boys to take to his room at night if they had
misbehaved or if they had been injured.
Brown was described in court as a "Jekyll and Hyde" character by one of the
boys he abused. Brown did a lot of "good" work running camps and being a
"friend." His religious work and his status as a church elder and the
brother of the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church, made it very difficult
for many people to accept that he could be guilty of abusing boys. Brown now
denies any wrong doing and many people want to believe that, but there is no
doubting from the evidence in trial that he obtained sexual gratification
from his control over boys.
Brown is almost a classic example of a career paedophile, in varying
degrees, he exhibits almost all of the characteristics of Wyre's definition
of a fixated paedophile.
Commentary Characteristics of the Fixated Paedophile (Wyre, 1987)
1 Main arousal is towards children (We do not know how many men, sexually
aroused to children, control their behaviour. Some Men get adult women to
play the roles of children.)
Evidence from trial indicates this is true. He admitted that in the changing
rooms of the swimming baths that he may have had erections (although he
denied that this was because he was sexually aroused).
2 Engages in highly predictable behaviour
Predictability is highly valued in our society. People in general are
creatures of routine and people respond to things out of routine as unusual,
in general people don't like change. A routine is more acceptable than
unpredictable behaviour and it makes it safer for the paedophile to operate
because predicatability allows the opportunity for greater control of a
situation. Brown attended church on Sunday, taught Religious Education
classes and ran camps for boys every year. Almost an unchanged annual
schedule from 1959 when he began running camps and from 1968 when he joined
Bangor Grammar, until his arrest in 1996. During school term he would be
teaching and taking swimming lessons and running youth groups, during the
holidays he would run camps for the boys.
3 Has poor relations with peers
In Brown's case, this is not necessarily so, as he had good social skills.
If a man had very poor relations with his peers, it would arouse suspicion
or staffroom friction. However the quality of some of the relations is
illustrated by another teacher (interviewed off record), who said that Brown
was seen in the staffroom as a Machiavellian character. Brown wasn't seen as
achieving promotion through academic results (high grade averages in exams)
but through his closeness to the headmaster, Thomas Patton. His close
relationship with Patton remains unexplained. It is known Brown stood by
Patton as a friend during Patton's divorce. One teacher said that after
teaching boys all week he wanted his own time free, whereas Brown was always
available for the boys. To some his evangelism made him a "saint-like
character," while others distrusted him. The Report says some teachers
respected Brown while others spoke of their unease about his "unhealthy
interest in the younger boys."
4 Molests large numbers of children
True. Brown was convicted of abusing 9 boys from 1968 - 1981, the case
against a boy in 1991 was undecided (9/3 jury verdict) The judge in
sentencing him said these were "sample" charges. A doctor in Bangor reported
8 men coming to see him. A witness provided 8 names out of his year of 120
boys. The police were approached by over two dozen men who claimed to have
been abused, only ten were prepared to go to court. More boys have come
forward since the trial and there may be another trial.
It is not known how many boys did Brown abuse? There appears to be evidence
that only the tip of the iceberg has been revealed. Perhaps as many as ten
boys a year, perhaps more, over the decades. A police officer voiced the
fear, and it is only that, that Brown molested hundreds of boys. Three
hundred to five hundred, as a rough estimate. In the US a study has shown
that a career paedophile can typically abuse between 250 to 300 boys.
(Why don't children report this type of man? Because he uses fear and
blackmail and out of embarrassment and confusion many children will not
report him. )
One man, abused in 1977 when he was 11-years-old, was taken to the vice-
principal's bedroom after cutting his eye at the summer camp, now 33 and
married, he said: "I was afraid to speak out when I was 11 because when
Brown assaulted me, he was the one in charge.
If you cannot tell your teacher, who can you tell?"
5 Adopts pseudo parental role.
Teachers are often in loco parentis. Especially in a situation where at
school camps, the boy may not have spent a week away from his family before.
Brown used this role as Camp Leader, reinforced by the presence of a
spinster teacher (who may have had some earlier romantic inclination towards
him), who he encouraged the boys to call her "Aunty". He also
conspiratorially referred to her as Miss Piggy.
6 Is seductive in his approach.
Seduction conjures up candles and restaurants, the dictionary, defines it as
"to draw aside from right conduct or belief." Brown used the evangelical
power of persuasion to talk the talk of "the Good Book" and the christian
way of life and used the intimacy of one-to-one sessions to molest boys. The
boys who believed were often the boys he abused. What they believed
afterwards would take a book. To complete the definition, "to draw aside
from right conduct OR belief, to entice, to corrupt; to lead astray, esp.
from chastity… act of enticing form virtue by promises: allurement,
attraction…"
7 Follows clear patterns of behaviour to make contact with children
8 Takes time to form relationships with children.
9 Uses child erotic material
According to Roy Hazlewood, "Aberrant offenders use pornography to validate
their deviance. ... The more they see of it, and masturbate to it, the more
their behavior is reinforced." Brown accumulated huge numbers of photographs
of young boys, these were seized in police raids. The exact number is not
known, but enough to fill a van. He kept certain photos of boys in a cigar
box in his study.
10 Uses child pornography
Not known. Material uncovered in his office at Bangor Grammar School at the
end of 1998 was passed to the police by the new headmaster as being, "not
right." Brown certainly possessed material that may be interpreted as having
a pornographic content for him.
11 May use adult porn to lower inhibitions of children.
There is no evidence of this. However what Brown did do was to titillate
with suggestions of adult sexual activity. He said that when he had been in
London, he described Soho in salacious terms, but he said he had rejected
the advances of these loose women as he was a christian. He was stimulating
young minds with sexual images beyond their years. Eleven year olds from
Northern Ireland are unlikely to have even been to London, let alone Soho of
the seventies (Sex shops and what Brown called "girlie bars.") Brown used
the guise of sex education to bring salacious discussions into the
classroom. The Report includes a complaint made by a parent in response to a
12 year old boy's enquiry about the meaning of "perversion," Brown had
referred in lurid and graphic detail to sex between humans and animals.
12 Seeks to portray his behaviour as normal
He was obsessed with masturbation. Masturbation is not unnatural in
adolescents, however his interest in it, could not be called "normal". Brown
"got" the boys before they could really know what "normal" was. Normal was
as he defined.
13 If he has friends they are probably paedophiles
Brown's social group was essentially the Church and evangelical alliance
around christian activities. He did have friends who supported him loyally
right up to and through the trial, the Presbyterian First Team as they came
to be known by those he abused. However his connection with other
paedophiles remains an unresolved aspect to this case with sinister
implications.
14 Shares information with other paedophiles.
It is likely that Brown shared information with at least one other
paedophile, James McClure. According to the Report, "In evidence to the
inquiry team, two of the victims and two parents reported that in one camp
Dr Brown involved a person, not connected with the school, who was
subsequently convicted of paedophilic behaviour." (p12) Brown admitted in
court that he had acted as a referee for McClure SUBSEQUENT to his
conviction. According to another camp leader McClure just appeared at the
camps. At the camps were other characters against whom questions have been
raised. The RUC have looked into this area.
15 Has strong cognitive distortions
It is highly likely that Brown does have strong cognitive distortions, but a
lack of data and length restrictions prevent a deeper analysis.
16 Will claim offence is out of character, a one off occurrence
Brown flatly denied the allegations, and denied them again in court. After
his conviction in his second interview with a prison officer something was
acknowledged. He "admitted" he abused boys to some extent and agreed to go
through with a programme to prevent relapse on his release. Although this
was reported as a jail cell confession, it was nothing of the sort. It was
almost certainly just a cynical attempt to reduce his sentence by showing
some form of contrition. Judge Gibson was unpersuaded and said that he
wasn't entitled to any remission after putting the witnesses through the
trial. Brown now maintains that he is completely innocent. He refuses to
make any acknowledgement of responsibility to those he abused.
17 Lives alone or with parents. 18 Over 25 years age no dating pattern with
men or women.
Brown lived with his mother until he was married in his forties and she then
lived with them until she went into a nursing home at the end of her life in
1986. No partner known until his unexpected marriage. (cf Q 27)
19 Enjoys the company of children (He will often stress how he loves
children. However the boy or girl will be left and rejected as he grows out
of the paedophile's target age)
20 May have pictures and décor in home that appeal to children.
Brown moved to a large house adjoining the school. He used to bring boys to
his house to play the piano or have tea and cakes.
21 Knows how to give attention to children, makes them feel special. Knows
how to talk to children. More especially knows how to listen.
This is so important, it could be number one. This is what a fixated
paedophile will do and this is how he does it. This is the crux to the
control of the child and the sense of power for the abuser Michaud realised
that sex crimes could usefully be classified as organised, disorganised or
mixed. Brown was organised in the larger picture of running the camps as he
wished. The actual incidents of abuse may have occurred in apparently
disorganised fashion, such as a boy coming to him at night for advice. Brown
was organised in setting up situations in which boys came to him requiring
attention and he would make them feel special. Not every situation involved
abuse for there must have been thousands of such situations, but many
incidents of abuse will have occurred in such situations.
22 Presents himself as a "nice man."
Literally, yes. The mother of one of the boys Brown abused expressed her
exasperation at still hearing - "Dr Brown seemed such a nice man, I can't
believe …" [expletives deleted]
23 May deliberately set out to gain the trust of parents
Brown made himself available as an intermediary in a pastoral role even
before his appointment as vice principal in 1993. Brown had a pre-emptory
strategy of ingratiating himself with parents, by being around he was
somebody because he was the only teacher a parent might have met. His role
as the teacher of RE and as a preacher gave him an additional authority.
Problems are often dissipated by being discussed, hence they are "solved."
Brown had the reputation of being a fixer and he was known to have the ear
of the headmaster. Brown attended the evening meeting for parents to bring
their sons after being accepted into the Grammar School. He also made
himself available to answer any questions about the Induction camp and used
favourite boys to give brochures to the parents and boys as they waited
outside the headmaster's office before their individual post acceptance
interviews. (cf Q 25)
24 May be precise well ordered
Brown maintained files on thousands of boys.
25 Considers status important. Uses authority to seduce.
Brown was the de facto head of religious education at the school for almost
his entire time there. He came to have authority as Senior Teacher
(1977-1993) for the Junior school. He retained pastoral authority for the
Junior school when he was appointed vice principal in 1993 (two years after
an RUC investigation into an incident of alleged abuse in 1991). In 1993 Dr
Brown was also named as the designated teacher for child abuse
issues.(Government Report p6) One of those abused by him said "the fox was
put in charge of the chickens."
26 By intuition selects vulnerable children, physically, emotionally
neglected.
This isn't a qualified opinion, but it seems true. Brown picked on those
were vulnerable emotionally or incapicitated by an accident. Perhaps it is a
coincidence that he abused boys who had been injured Or abused boys who had
been "bad" and had to sleep in his room as punishment. This angle was picked
up in the media - 'He picked on the vulnerable' - 18 Feb 1998 - Belfast
Telegraph Summary: He picked on the vulnerable By Claire McGahan. THE Jekyll
and Hyde vice- principal of BGS is awaiting sentence after being found
guilty of sexually assaulting boys.
27 Does not marry but may be in a marriage of convenience
Brown married late in life, in his early forties to a rather plain and large
spinster. They had one daughter, 12 in 1998. Brown is alleged to have told
boys in class that he did not sleep with his wife. His wife has been
described as not being particularly sophisticated. She stood by him up to
his trial, during the trial she showed distress at the revelations, she had
not been told by Brown of the full extent of the allegations. After the
trial she still maintains his innocence.
28 May attach himself to a family to get access to children.
Not known, although he was very adept at gaining the confidence of parents
and manipulative in always being a "sympathetic ear" about their child.
29 May belong to children's organisations.
Brown was involved in Scripture Union in the school and throughout Northern
Ireland. His responsibilities included organisation of trips, house parties
and camps. He was involved in Cregagh Boys' Club and youth clubs in Bangor.
He was an elder at Bangor 3rd Presbyterian Church and a member of Christian
youth committees.
30 Will have preference for children of particular age range.
Brown was interested in boys from 10 to 14, his particular interest would be
11/12, the older boys would have been "young for their age." All the
accusations against him are from boys in this age group 10-14.
31 the older the child he targets the more likely he is to stick to that sex
gender.
All the accusations are from male children.
32 Use of language about children a clue - "clean, pure, innocent rosebuds."
Brown spoke in elevated terms of boys, declaring his life's work to be
making them men of god, although his actual involvement with them beyond
third form (age 14) was limited.
33 Often wants to exclude other adults when with children
Evidence given to inquiry of Brown allowing boys to change for swimming in
his caravan away from other teachers.
34 May enjoy limited sexual involvement (no buggary). Yes, convicted of
indecent assault and gross indecency.
35 Enjoys photographing children A huge collection of photographs.
36 May create child sex rings Covered in Q13 & Q14.
37 Interest begins in adolescence.
There is only anecdotal information on this. Although it is hearsay,
possibly unreliable, Brown was described as "strange" as an adolescent in
Newcastle. Information on offenders being abused themselves is limited but
it is possible that many men who abuse were abused themselves, but most men
who were abused do not go on to abuse others. Source - Content Lords Hansard
19 Feb 1997 :Lord Fitt
2 EVIL THAT MEN DO, FBI Profiler Roy Hazlewood's Journey Into the Minds of
Sexual Predators Stephen Michaud with Roy Hazelwood, St Martin's Press 1998.
Hazelwood's six basic types of rapist. These are what he terms the common
"power reassurance rapist," who wants only to prove his masculinity to
himself; the "power assertive rapist," less common but more violent; the
"anger retaliatory rapist," who works out his rage against women by using
excessive force, and the "anger excitation rapist," a sadist who is sexually
stimulated by his victim's suffering. (The other two categories, which
interest Hazelwood somewhat less, are the so-called "opportunistic rapist,"
who is often drunk or high on drugs, and the "gang rapist," who succumbs to
pathological group behavior.)
3 Search Results Belfast Telegraph
Bangor head to face sex charges - 19 Jul 1996 - Todaysfrontpage - 84%
Summary: Bangor head to face sex charges. By John Breslin A DEPUTY head of
one of Northern Irelandąs top grammar schools will appear in court next week
on sex charges. Dr Lindsay Brown, vice- principal of Bangor Grammar, will
face five charges of indecent assault when he appears at Coleraine
Magistrateąs Court on Wednesday.
Sex charge deputy principal given bail - 24 Jul 1996 - Todaysfrontpage - 82%
Summary: Sex charge deputy principal given bail. THE vice-principal of a
well known Northern Ireland grammar school today appeared in court on sex
offences against young boys. Lindsay Thompson Brown (56), a deputy head of
Bangor Grammar, was charged with five counts of indecent assault on dates
unknown over a 23- year period up to the summer of 1991.
'Teacher was in bed with me' - 29 Jan 1998 - NEWS - 82% Summary: ŚTeacher
was in bed with meą Jury told of incident at Castlerock camp By Claire
McGahan A TEACHER at a leading Ulster grammar school took a young boy who
had been misbehaving into his room and got into bed with him, a court has
heard. The claim came on the second day of the trial of Lindsay Thompson
Brown, of College Avenue, Bangor, a former vice- principal of Bangor Grammar
School.
Teacher shared bed with pupil - 30 Jan 1998 - NEWS - 82% Summary: Teacher
shared bed with pupil. Man tells of sex assault on ferry By Kathryn Torney A
TEACHER at a top Ulster grammar school sexually abused a young boy with whom
he shared a bed on a school trip, a court was told today. The claim was made
on the third day of the trial of Lindsay Thompson Brown, of College Avenue,
Bangor, a former vice-principal of Bangor Grammar School.
Man tells of sex abuse by teacher - 04 Feb 1998 - NEWS - 82% Summary: Man
tells of sex abuse by teacher. By Marie Foy A MAN has told a jury that a
former teacher molested him and performed a sex act in front of him. The
accused, Lindsay Brown (57) of College Avenue, Bangor, denies 14 counts of
indecent assault and two of gross indecency involving 10 boys between 1968
and 1991.
Teacher 'molested me in bed' - 05 Feb 1998 - NEWS - 62% Summary: Teacher
Śmolested me in bedą Witness tells court of night at camp By Kathryn Torney
A TEACHER at a leading Ulster grammar school sexually abused a young boy at
summer camp, a court heard today. A witness, now aged 39, made the claim at
the trial of Lindsay Thompson Brown, of College Avenue, Bangor, a former
vice- principal of Bangor Grammar School.
Teacher abused me, court is told - 06 Feb 1998 - NEWS - 82% Summary: Teacher
abused me, court is told. ŚHe has got away with it long enoughą By Kathryn
Torney A TEACHER at a leading Ulster grammar school used the banner of
Christianity to enable him to abuse young boys, a court heard yesterday. The
claim was made by a witness at the trial of Lindsay Thompson Brown, of
College Avenue, Bangor, a former vice-principal of Bangor Grammar School.
Former school teacher denies sex abuse - 11 Feb 1998 - NEWS - 62% Summary:
Former school teacher denies sex abuse. Boys were told that Śsex is a gift
from Godą By Claire McGahan A FORMER vice-principal of one of Ulsterąs
leading grammar schools was in the witness box for the first time today to
deny that he sexually abused boys in his care. Lindsay Thompson Brown, of
College Avenue, Bangor, denies 15 counts of gross indecency and indecent
assault involving 10 boys.
Teacher 'did not assault his pupils' - 13 Feb 1998 - NEWS - 64% Summary:
Teacher 'did not assault his pupils'. Defence witness takes stand at trial
By Claire McGahan A DEFENCE witness at the trial of a former Bangor Grammar
School vice-principal has said Lindsay Brown did not sexually assault boys
in his presence. Lindsay Thompson Brown, (57) of College Avenue, Bangor,
denies 15 counts of gross indecency and indecent assault involving 10 boys.
Sex case teacher's guard takes stand - 14 Feb 1998 - NEWS - 60% Summary: Sex
case teacherąs guard takes stand By Claire McGahan A PAST pupil of Bangor
Grammar School _ now a prison officer _ has given evidence at the trial of
his former teacher days after he guarded the defendant in court. Prison
officer William Dickson (38), guarded Lindsay Thompson Brown, the former
vice-principal of Bangor Grammar School, at his trial on sex offences in
Downpatrick Crown Court.
Teacher 'preyed on boys' - 16 Feb 1998 - NEWS - 58% Summary: Teacher Śpreyed
on boysą Accused had Ścloak of repectabilityą A FORMER vice- principal of
Bangor Grammar School hid behind a cloak of respectability as he abused
young boys in his care, a court heard today. And Lindsay Thompson Browne is
still hiding behind a cloak of respectability by denying abuse of 10 boys, a
lawyer told Downpatrick Crown Court.
Sex case jury set to rule on ex-teacher - 17 Feb 1998 - Todaysfrontpage -
60% Summary: Sex case jury set to rule on ex-teacher. By Claire McGahan THE
JURY was today due to retire to consider its verdict on Lindsay Brown, the
former vice-principal of Bangor Grammar School who faces sex allegations.
Brown (57) of College Avenue, Bangor _ a founder member of the Scripture
Union _ denies 15 counts, two of gross indecency and 13 of indecent assault,
against 10 boys on dates between 1968 and 1991.
Friend and mentor had God-like authority - 18 Feb 1998 - NEWS - 80% Summary:
Friend and mentor had God-like authority. Men queued to tell court of
monster By Clare McGahan FROM the start of his career at Bangor Grammar
School in 1968, Lindsay Thompson Brown set about forging close relationships
with young boys. But his intent, in many cases, was to groom youngsters for
abuse.
'He picked on the vulnerable' - 18 Feb 1998 - NEWS - 64% Summary: ŚHe picked
on the vulnerableą By Claire McGahan. THE łJekyll and Hyde˛ former vice-
principal of Bangor Grammar School is awaiting sentence after being found
guilty of sexually assaulting boys.
Brown victim seeking inquiry - 19 Feb 1998 - NEWS - 62% Summary: Brown
victim seeking inquiry. Abuse caused ex-pupil to turn from religion By
Claire McGahan EVENTS at Bangor Grammar School cannot be swept under the
carpet, a man sexually assaulted by former vice-principal Lindsay Brown said
today. The victim was one of 10 men who gave evidence against Brown at his
trial. his first momentous words in Northern Ireland.
Parent seeks school pervert inquiry - 24 Feb 1998 - NEWS - 62% Summary:
Parent seeks school pervert inquiry. By Gary Grattan Education Correspondent
THE father of a former pupil at Bangor Grammar School, whose complaint
sparked a police investigation into the activities of pervert teacher
Lindsay Brown, has criticised the education authorities for failing to take
proper action. He has written an open letter to the board of governors in
the wake of the former deputy headmasterąs conviction for sex offences
against ex- pupils.
Before stones are cast. . . - 24 Feb 1998 - LETTERS - 80% Summary: Before
stones are cast. . .. . I AM sorry to see the Belfast Telegraph stooping to
the level of some of the gutter press in reporting the trial and conviction
of Lindsay Brown, former vice- principal of Bangor Grammar School.
Pervert teacher to be sentenced - 18 Mar 1998 - NEWS - 62% Summary: Pervert
teacher to be sentenced. Victims expected in court By Claire McGahan A
FORMER vice- principal of Bangor Grammar School convicted of abusing young
boys in his care was due to be sentenced today. Lindsay Thompson Brown (57)
of College Avenue, Bangor, was found guilty by a jury on two counts of gross
indecency and nine of indecent assault against boys at his trial last month.
Seven years for evil pervert - 19 Mar 1998 - NEWS - 62% Summary: Seven years
for evil pervert. Judge warns Brown is Śa danger to young boysą By Claire
McGahon A FORMER vice principal of Bangor Grammar School is today starting a
seven-year sentence for sexually abusing nine boys. Passing sentence
yesterday, Judge Peter Gibson described Lindsay Thompson Brown (57) of
College Avenue, Bangor, as Śevilą and Śa danger to young boysą.
School plans abuse helpline - 19 Mar 1998 - Todaysfrontpage - 60% Summary:
School plans abuse helpline. ŚThere may be other victims of Brown out thereą
By Claire McGahan A TOP Co Down school at the centre of the Lindsay Brown
sex scandal today appealed for more abuse victims to come forward. Bangor
Grammar School conceded there may be more victims of sexual assault from the
schooląs former deputy headmaster.
Brave victim tells of his terror at hands of paedophile Brown - 21 Mar
1998 - NEWS - 60% Summary: Brave victim tells of his terror at hands of
paedophile Brown ONE of the men sexually abused by former Bangor Grammar
School deputy head Lindsay Brown today identified himself as a victim. By
Claire McGahan Mark Jordan has bravely waived his legal right to anonymity
to tell how he was indecently assaulted by Brown during a swimming lesson
when he was 12-years-old.
Jailed Brown faces fresh abuse claims - 07 Apr 1998 - NEWS - 84% Summary:
Jailed Brown faces fresh abuse claims. By Nathaniel Bane POLICE are
investigating fresh complaints against convicted pervert Lindsay Brown, the
former vice principal of Bangor Grammar School. An RUC spokesman said today
that a number of people had come forward since Brown, (57), was jailed for
seven years last month for sexually abusing nine boys.
Mother of victim welcomes new move - 18 Jun 1998 - NEWS - 60% Summary:
Mother of victim welcomes new move. Inquiry to report on complaint By Claire
McGahan THE MOTHER of a boy who claims he was sexually assaulted by jailed
paedophile Lindsay Brown today welcomed a fresh inquiry into how her sonąs
complaint was handled. Education Minister Tony Worthington has appointed a
three- strong independent inquiry team to look into how Bangor Grammar
School handled a complaint made by the boy and his parents in September
1991.
Sex scandal school shame - 27 Aug 1998 - NEWS - 58% Summary: Sex scandal
school shame. By Gary Grattan, Education Correspondent CHILD protection
guidelines in schools across Northern Ireland are to be reviewed in the wake
of the Lindsay Brown paedophile scandal, it emerged today. The move was
announced by the education minister after an official report branded Bangor
Grammar School łseriously at fault˛ in its response to a complaint made
about the former vice principal.
Learning Summary: Learning lessons. Abuse scandal: Bangor grammarąs mistakes
must not be repeated PARENTS have rightly been horrified by the report
showing how Bangor grammar school was łseriously at fault˛ in its response
to sex abuse allegations against the former vice-principal, Lindsay Brown.
Before his arrest and conviction last March, fought all the way in court, he
was allowed to prey on pupils between 11 and 13 over three decades.
lessons - 28 Aug 1998 - LEADERS - 82%
Minister tightens advice on sex abuse - 09 Oct 1998 - NEWS - 80% Summary:
Minister tightens advice on sex abuse. Schools bid to shield children By
Gary Grattan SCHOOLS across Northern Ireland are co-operating with a major
new initiative to tighten up child protection measures. The Department of
Education has written to all schools seeking seeking confirmation they are
complying with new advice
Sex abuse teacher is to get cut in pension - 03 Dec 1998 - NEWS - 60%
Summary: Sex abuse teacher is to get cut in pension. Moves to reduce cash
benefits By Gary Grattan CONVICTED sex abuse teacher Lindsay Brown is having
his pension cut, it emerged today. The former deputy headmaster of Bangor
Grammar was jailed in February of this year on charges of gross indecency
and indecent assault against pupils at the school.
Brown victims welcome new rules 09 Mar 1999
Guidelines sparked by school sex abuse scandal
By Kathryn Torney, Education Correspondent
VICTIMS of paedophile Lindsay Brown today welcomed the new guidelines on how
to protect children from abuse in Ulster schools. The Department of
Education published a booklet Pastoral Care in Schools: Child Protection
yesterday following a review of child protection after the Bangor Grammar
paedophile scandal.
New children's care rules after Brown scandal 8 March 1999
By Kathryn Torney, Education Correspondent
NEW far-reaching guidelines on how to protect children from abuse in Ulster
schools were announced today. The Department of Education has published a
booklet - Pastoral Care in Schools: Child Protection - following a review of
child protection, after the Lindsay Brown paedophile scandal. The new
guidelines include a code of conduct for school staff, advice on handling
complaints from parents on child protection and guidance on the role of
staff in child protection. The Education Minister John McFall announced a
review of child protection in schools after an official report last August
branded Bangor Grammar "seriously at fault" in the Brown case. Mr McFall
said: "I firmly believe that every child has the fundamental right to be
safe at school and home. "It is essential not to touch pupils in any ways,
on parts of the body or in circumstances that might be considered
indecent."Mr McFall added: "I appreciate that the vast majority of parents
and substitute carers do not harm children, however we know there is no room
for complacency. Prevention is better than cure, never more than in the
issue of child protection."Other changes put in place include: new guidance
on the selection and vetting of volunteers. further training of designated
teachers and their deputies and a comprehensive training programme for
governors from spring onwards. revised and strengthened inspection
procedures on pastoral care and child protection. A copy of the booklet was
sent to all schools in the province.
4 Report of the independent inquiry into Bangor Grammar School's handling of
complaints made to it about Dr Lindsay Brown NORTHERN IRELAND Information
Service
27 August 1998 EDUCATION MINISTER PUBLISHES REPORT OF BGS INQUIRY Education
Minister John McFall W today published the report of the independent Inquiry
into the handling by Bangor Grammar School of complaints made against Dr
Lindsay Brown. The Minister said: "First and foremost I want to put on
record, as the Minister responsible for the education service, my sincere
apologies, and those of Bangor Grammar School, to the young people who were
the victims of Dr Brown's abuse and to their families, who were so badly let
down by the education system. The thought that their child might suffer
sexual abuse is every parent's worst nightmare. Every child has the
fundamental right to be safe at school, and every parent has the right to
expect that their child's school will do all in its power to keep them safe.
In Bangor Grammar School these fundamental rights were not safeguarded.
Major errors of judgement were made, and weaknesses in the school's
procedures protected Dr Brown's aberrant behaviour from any searching
scrutiny. "The Chairman of the Board of Governors, the Permanent Secretary
and the Chief Inspector all join me in expressing our deepest regret about
the hurt caused to, and the anguish suffered, directly and indirectly, by
boys at the school, and their families, because of what Dr Brown did. It is
clear that Dr Brown grossly abused his position of trust as a senior teacher
in the school over a long period of time. I am deeply sorry that this
happened, and that his activities were not identified and stopped much
earlier. Moreover, when parents complained, it is clear that their
complaints were not taken seriously enough: that is, in my view, a
reprehensible response from any school. "I want to pay particular tribute to
the persistence and resilience shown by a number of parents which led to
this Inquiry and Report. I am also particularly grateful to everyone who
contributed evidence to the Inquiry. I am conscious that it must have been
painful for many to relive those difficult times. Without their courage it
would not have been possible to gain a full picture of what happened and to
learn lessons from it which will help prevent anything like this happening
again in our schools." Turning to the Report itself, the Minister said: "The
Report clearly points to many weaknesses in the school's child protection
arrangements: ? inadequate briefing and training of staff in child abuse and
child protection issues; ? inadequate procedures for handling complaints by
parents or others against members of staff, including how these were
recorded., ? inadequate procedures for recording and reporting instances of
possible child abuse; ? inadequate vetting arrangements for people acting as
supervisors at the induction camps for first formers; ? a consistent failure
by teachers who admitted to the Inquiry team that they had had concerns
about Dr Brown over the years to report those concerns to senior management
in the school; ? and, perhaps most worryingly, failure on the part of the
Board of Governors, the principal and the senior management team to exercise
adequately their primary responsibility for the safety and welfare of the
children in their charge, as set out in the guidance in my Department's
Child Protection Circulars. "This is indeed a sorry catalogue of failure and
omission, and I know that the Board of Governors deeply regret the history
of problems. The current Chairman, Mr. David Gray, has assured me of the
absolute commitment of the Board to the pastoral care of all the present and
prospective pupils of the School, and he has also confirmed the Board's
intent to take whatever steps are necessary to ensure the events of past
years are never repeated. "The Board of Governors, the newly-appointed
Principal and the rest of the staff of Bangor Grammar School must now focus
on re-building the confidence of parents, pupils and the general public in
the school, particularly by implementing the recommendations in the Report.
I am convinced they can achieve this, and I want to give them every support
in so doing," said the Minister. "I am aware that the school has already
begun a comprehensive review of its pastoral care arrangements, and I have
asked the Inspectorate to carry out a quality assurance inspection of the
revised arrangements during the first term of 1999/2000 school year, the
results of which will be made available to parents." "The Report lists 12
recommendations addressed to the school, and the Chairman of the Board of
Governors has assured me that the Board fully accepts and will implement all
12. I have asked the school to submit an action plan to me, which I will
monitor in 3 months' time, to ensure progress in implementing the Report's
recommendations. "As a parent, as well as a Government Minister, I want to
give all parents in Northern Ireland my unequivocal assurance that I regard
the care and protection of children in schools as my first priority, and I
am determined to ensure that the risk of this type of abuse happening in
future in our schools is minimised as far as humanly possible. We must all
take responsibility for child protection, and I am announcing today a number
of new measures, some going well beyond the recommendations of the Report,
which I accept. I believe these wide-ranging measures will place the
standards of child protection procedures in the education system in Northern
Ireland second to none. "These new measures are: ? during September, my
Department will write formally to every Principal and every person who
chairs a Board of Governors in every school, seeking assurance that the
Board, Principal and staff associated with the school are fully aware of
their responsibilities for child protection outlined in the Department's
detailed Circular which issued in 1997, and confirmation that the school is
complying fully with the advice set out in the Circular; ? any shortcomings
will be identified by the Department and will be followed up directly with
the school concerned, and procedures in all schools will be inspected by the
Education and Training Inspectorate on every subsequent occasion when a
school is the subject of a General Inspection; ? training for existing and
new Governors will be increased and enhanced, so that all school Governors
understand clearly their responsibilities in child protection matters; ? I
am establishing a working group, consisting of the Inspectorate, Education
and Library Boards, the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools, the
Governing Bodies' Association and teachers' representatives, to draw up, by
December 1998: ? guidance for schools on procedures for receiving,
investigating, recording and reporting complaints by parents, especially
complaints about the conduct of members of staff, and ? a model Code of
Practice for the conduct of all staff in schools towards their pupils; ?
these materials will be considered in the first instance by the Teachers'
Salaries and Conditions of Service Committee (Schools), who will also advise
on an amendment to the current Circular on disciplinary procedures for
teachers, to ensure that records of verbal or written warnings to staff
about inappropriate behaviour towards pupils will remain on file for longer
than one year.(as at present); ? my Department will also be issuing, in
December 1998, guidance to school authorities on the vetting of volunteers
working with teachers in supervising school pupils. This will extend the
existing guidance on the vetting of people employed by schools; ? moreover,
I will be suggesting to the new Assembly that they should take early powers
to require all schools to have in place a written statement of both their
child protection procedures and their procedures for handling complaints,
and to give copies of these to their parents, so that parents can be aware
not only of how they can make a complaint, but also that their complaints
will be addressed speedily and effectively; ? I am also asking CCEA, as part
of the full-scale review of the curriculum they are undertaking, to advise
on how personal protection programmes such as 'Kidscape' and 'Teenscape' can
best be integrated into the curriculum for all children, and on how sex
education should be introduced sensitively and appropriately into the
curriculum. This advice will issue by January 1999; ? I intend to require
all schools, starting this Autumn, to review their child protection
procedures annually to ensure that they are fit for purpose, and in future
to include in their prospectuses a statement to the effect that they have
done so; ? Finally, my Department will also be issuing, through the schools,
a leaflet for parents on child safety early in the autumn term, offering
advice on what they can do to protect their child outside school, to
complement the strengthening of procedures and practices within schools."
Turning to the inspection of child protection procedures in schools, the
Minister said: "The Chief Inspector deeply regrets that the inspection of
the school which took place in 1993 did not identify the weaknesses in the
school's arrangements for protecting pupils from sexual abuse. As the
inquiry report makes clear, the Inspectors, in making their judgements on
pastoral care in the school, relied on observation of how the arrangements
worked in practice, and on discussion with a range of pupils, relevant
staff, and the headmaster. Nobody, including the headmaster, mentioned to
the Inspectors, formally or informally, any concerns about child abuse.
Nevertheless, and with hindsight, the Chief Inspector accepts that the
inspection procedures at the time were not sufficiently thorough to identify
the weaknesses in the school's arrangements for dealing with child abuse
issues. ? "The Inspectorate has therefore revised its procedures to ensure
that child protection issues in all schools are more rigorously and actively
evaluated. These changes will include: ? improved arrangements for obtaining
information direct from pupils, parents and teachers, together with
information from health trusts about any allegations of abuse which they
have received. The Senior Chief Inspector of schools in Scotland has been
invited to review the new procedures being used by the Education and
Training Inspectorate, to ensure that they are properly robust, and report
by December 1998; ? on receipt of that report the new procedures will be
amended, if necessary, and made public; ? starting in January 1999, the
Inspectorate will also pilot unannounced inspections of the care and welfare
of pupils in schools to ensure that appropriate procedures are in place and
working satisfactorily." Mr McFall continued.. "The Report's recommendations
are wide-ranging, but the Inquiry has highlighted a number of other, broader
issues which I believe need to be the subject of further consideration.
Firstly, it is clear that in this case many of the problems stemmed from the
fact that too much control within the school was retained in the hands of
the headmaster and Dr Brown himself. I want to look further at how schools
organise themselves to carry out the duties and responsibilities placed on
Boards of Governors. "Secondly, and although the Report offers no criticism
of the Departmental guidance on child procedure issues in our Circulars, I
want to consider this guidance further to see whether it needs to be
strengthened, for example in the role which should be played by the senior
management team regarding corporate responsibility for child protection
policies and procedures in schools. "Thirdly, I think there may well be
merit in making more explicit in law the duty of care which Boards of
Governors and schools have towards their pupils - and which most schools and
teachers, by far, readily acknowledge and accept - and I will want to
explore this further, although this would be a matter for the new Assembly
to take forward." "Fourthly, as Minister for both Education and Health and
Social Services, my responsibilities in this matter extend beyond
exclusively education matters to the health and welfare of all young people.
I see clear implications in the Inquiry Report and my response to it for
child protection policies and procedures in a range of institutions where
children are being looked after. I will be actively pursuing these, and I am
asking the Chief Inspector of the Social Services Inspectorate to consider
these and report to me." The Minister then turned to the measures he has
taken to support the victims of Dr Brown's abuse, and how victims of child
abuse and their families can get help. "Because of the serious nature of the
incidents involving Dr Brown, which may have long term in effects on his
victims and their families, I have made arrangements for counselling to be
made available. Anyone who has been experiencing any difficulties, has any
concerns, or just wants to talk to someone about how they were affected, can
telephone a helpline manned by staff from the Ulster Community and Hospitals
Trust. The helpline will be available from 3.00pm to 5.00pni, Monday to
Friday, for the next month. The telephone number is 01247-270672. "Finally,
and more generally, there may be parents today who are worried that their
child may be being abused, whether in school or outside, and there may be
children who are suffering abuse, and do not know where they can get help.
If a parent has concerns about something that is happening in school, he or
she should ask to speak to the school's designated teacher for child abuse
issues. If, for whatever reason, the parent does not wish to speak to this
particular teacher, the parent should speak to the school principal, or to
the Chairperson of the Board of Governors. If the parent is unhappy about
approaching the school, he or she should call the Police Exchange, on
01232-650222, who will either put them through to, or give them the direct
dialling number of, their nearest CARE (Child Abuse and Rape Enquiry) Unit.
CARE Unit officers are experienced in handling issues of this nature with
sensitivity and tact. "If any child is being abused and wants to tell
someone, and is not comfortable about talking to a teacher, he or she can
ring the Northern Ireland Childline on 0800 212888, or the NSPCC Child
Protection Helpline on 0800 800500. In both cases calls are free. The most
important thing to tell someone - not to suffer in silence. NOTES FOR
EDITORS Dr Lindsay Brown, former vice-principal of Bangor Grammar School,
was convicted in February 1998 on 9 counts of indecent assault and 2 counts
of gross indecency. On 18 June, in response to representations from parents
and their representatives, Tony Worthington MP established an inquiry with
the following terms of reference: "To examine how the Principal, senior
staff and Board of Governors of Bangor Grammar School responded to any
complaints against Dr Lindsay Brown made to it since the date of the
Department of Education's Circular 1989/41 - Dealing with Child Abuse: A
Guide for the Education Sector including, in particular, complaints made in
September 1991, with particular reference to the child protection
arrangements in place at the school and how these reflected the advice in
Circular 1989/41; to report its findings and make recommendations to the
Department, including any lessons to be learnt which may have application to
schools more generally. " The report of the inquiry team was submitted to
the Minister on 31 July 1998. The Minister met the Chairman and other
representatives of the Board of Governors on 24 August to discuss the
findings and recommendation of the inquiry. Copies of the report will be
available: 1. for parents of pupils at the school from. Bangor Grammar
School
2.for other interested persons from: School Performance Branch Department of
Education 43 Rathgael Road Bangor BT19 7PR Telephone 01247 279749 There
follows a summary of the recommendations, together with the Government's
response BANGOR GRAMMAR SCHOOL INQUIRY REPORT: GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO
RECOMMENDATIONS 11. 1 Bangor Grammar School Bangor Grammar School has
advised the Department that it accepts all the recommendations in the
Report. The Department has asked the school to provide an update on
implementation within 3 months. The proposed inspection of pastoral care 'm
Bangor Grammar School (Recommendation 11.4 i) will include an assessment of
progress by the school in implementing the recommendations. 11.2 Schools in
General There are 6 recommendations addressed to all schools. Early in
September the Department will write to all schools to advise them again of
the importance of following the requirements and advice in the circular on
Child Protection. The Department will also set out these further
recommendations, advise schools of the action to be taken and will require
every Principal and Chairman of Board of Governors to confirm that the Board
of Governors are aware of and implementing the Circular fully. All schools
should: i) immediately provide information to DENI about their
implementation of guidance on child protection The questionnaire to all
schools, seeking information about schools' action under the child
protection circular will be issued 'm September. Any shortcomings will be
identified and followed up with the school concerned, and the procedures in
all schools will be inspected by the Education and Training Inspectorate on
every occasion of a further general inspection of each school. ii) ensure
that the school curriculum includes a programme for pupils on personal
protection and that their implementation should be monitored Such programmes
are available through the Education and Library Boards and the Department
will ask Boards to monitor progress. CCEA will also be asked to advise on
how personal protection programmes such as "Kidscape" and "Teenscape" can
best be integrated into the curriculum of all schools. iii) establish a Code
of Practice for the conduct of all members of staff towards pupils The group
to be established in response to recommendation 11.3.i) will draw up
guidance to schools on a code of practice, to issue by December 1998. iv)
establish a clearly defined procedure for receiving, investigating,
recording and reporting complaints about the behaviour of teachers Such
procedures are crucial to ensure that all complaints are properly handled
but also to ensure that any patterns of complaints are identified. The group
established in response to recommendation 11.3.i) will be tasked with
providing provide guidance on this by December 1998. The model procedure to
be drawn up by the group will be sent to every school, so that schools can
introduce procedures. Issues in this regard (iii. and iv) which fall within
the remit of the Teachers' Salaries and Conditions of Service (Schools) will
be referred to that Committee. v) ensure that sex education policy is
consistent with Departmental guidance and that where the sex education
programme covers several subjects there should be careful co-ordination and
planning of what is provided It is important that the sex education
programme is appropriate to the age and maturity of pupils and also that the
programme is delivered consistently by all teachers concerned. CCEA is
preparing guidance and advice for schools on drawing up policies for sex
education and working this topic into the curriculum. The guidance will
issue to schools by January 1999. vi) ensure that persons other than school
staff helping or leading out of school activities are vetted Existing
guidelines on vetting for criminal background apply to teachers and to other
staff employed in the school but do not extend to volunteers. The Department
will issue further guidance to schools by December 1998. 11.3 The Department
of Education should: i) issue guidance to schools and education and library
boards about policy and procedures in dealing with complaints. The
Department will set up a group including the Inspectorate, the education and
library boards, CCMS, the Governing Bodies Association and teachers'
representatives, to produce this guidance by December 1998. Again, this will
be referred to the Teachers' Salaries and Conditions of Service Committee
(Schools). ii) after receiving the returns from schools about their
compliance with circulars and guidance on Child Protection the Department
should establish procedures to monitor the extent and nature of the response
in all schools to the policy guidance issued by the Department on, for
example, child protection and sex education. This will be handled as
outlined in the response to recommendation 11.2 (i) above. iii) amend
circular 1990/3 "Disciplinary Procedure for Teachers in Schools" to make it
mandatory that when any allegation of misconduct towards pupils is made
against a teacher, that teacher will be suspended from duty, without
prejudice and as a precautionary measure, until appropriate investigation is
made of the allegation. The existing Disciplinary Procedure for Teachers is
already under review by the Teachers' Salaries and Conditions of Service
Committee (Schools). The new procedure provides for precautionary suspension
in certain circumstances. Before it is sent to schools by the employing
authorities, the Committee will be asked to consider urgently the Inquiry
Team's recommendation that precautionary suspension is appropriate in cases
where children are deemed to be at risk. 11.4 The Education and Training
Inspectorate i) should conduct a Quality Assurance inspection of pastoral
care in Bangor Grammar School, the Inspectorate's findings should be
published and the school's own evaluation report should be issued to
parents. The timing of the inspection should be subject to the Inspectorate
ensuring that the rigour of its assessment of child protection issues is
consistent with other aspects of pastoral care and also subject to the
school having taken action to implement and evaluate its revised approaches
to pastoral care Bangor Grammar School has been asked to submit, within 3
months, a progress report of the action taken to implement the
recommendations which apply to it and on receipt of this the timing of the
quality assurance inspection will be determined; it will take place early in
the 1999/2000 school year. The Inspectorate Report will be published- The
school's internal report is a developmental exercise and not intended for an
external audience and will not be published, but will be available to any
parents who request it. ii) modify the arrangements for seeking parents'
views, prior to a general inspection, about the work of the school including
the pastoral care programme; this should be in a meeting with the inspectors
alone, or by questionnaire. The principal should be informed about the
general opinions expressed. The Inspectorate has revised its inspection
arrangements for child protection issues and new arrangements, including
improved arrangements for obtaining information from parents, pupils,
teachers and Governors, together with information from health trusts about
any allegations which they have received, will be evaluated during the
Autumn term 1998. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR BANGOR GRAMMAR SCHOOL WHICH WILL BE
APPLIED TO ALL SCHOOLS The Board of Governors should receive information and
briefing by the principal about all circulars issued by the Department of
Education which have implications for the role and responsibilities of
Governors In September the Department of Education will be writing to all
school principals, copied to the Chairs of their Board of Governors,
directing them to implement this recommendation. The Board of Governors
should revise the school's scheme of management to reflect the model scheme
of management and to make it consistent with the current duties and
responsibilities of Boards of Governors The schemes of management of all
schools will be revised and updated during 1999 to ensure that they comply
with the latest legislative requirements. The Department of Education will
commence work on this immediately. The Board of Governors should provide
training for all new members of the Board of Governors and encourage
existing members to avail of such training and guidance necessary to ensure
the effective discharge of their roles and responsibilities. The Department
of Education will take this forward with the Education and Library Boards
and CCMS. OTHER ACTION BEING TAKEN It will be suggested to the new Assembly
that it take early powers to require all schools to have in place a written
statement of both their child protection procedures and their procedures for
handling complaints, and to give copies to their parents so that they know
how to make a complaint. Such powers will help to ensure that complaints are
handled speedily and effectively. Schools will also be directed to conduct
an annual review of their child protection procedures to ensure that they
are fit for purpose, and to include a statement in their prospectuses that
they have done so. This will reassure parents that their child is as safe as
possible in school. The Inspectorate will also pilot unannounced inspections
of the care and welfare of pupils to ensure that appropriate procedures are
in place and working satisfactorily. Consideration will be given to
strengthening the child protection guidance in the Department of Education's
circulars. Consideration will be given to placing on Boards of Governors a
more explicit duty of care towards their pupils. This will be a matter for
the new Assembly to take forward. 980827c-deni.htm
5 Department of Education NI, JOHN McFALL Announces NEW ARRANGEMENTS FOR
PROTECTING CHILDREN 8 March 1999. Child Protection, Pastoral Care in Schools
NORTHERN IRELAND Information Service
8 March 1999 JOHN McFALL ANNOUNCES NEW ARRANGEMENTS FOR PROTECTING CHILDREN
John McFall MP, Minister with responsibility for Education and Health, today
announced the outcome of reviews of child protection arrangements by the
Department of Education and the Department of Health and Social Service
Speaking at a press conference in the Europa Hotel, the Minister said: "In
keeping with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, I firmly believe
that every child has a fundamental right to be safe at school and at home,
and that every parent has the right to expect those charged with their
children's care, whether at school or in other settings, will do all In
their power to keep them safe. "My absolute top priority, both as a
Government Minister and as a parent, is protecting children - in school and
in the community. I promised in August that child protection procedures in
Northern Ireland would be second to none and today I am setting out how I am
turning that promise into real actions for improvement." Launching the new
booklet, "Pastoral Care in Schools: Child Protection", which provides a full
compendium of guidance for schools on protecting children, the Minister
outlined the changes being put in place: ? revised guidance for schools,
teachers and Governors on their roles and responsibilities in child
protection matters; ? new guidance on handling complaints from parents on
child protection matters; ? a Code of Conduct for staff; ? new guidance an
the selection and vetting of volunteers; ? further training of designated
teachers and their deputies, and a comprehensive training programme for
Governors from Spring onwards; and ? revised and strengthened Inspection
procedures on pastoral care and child protection. The Minister said: "This
is a comprehensive package of measures, and once in place I believe that
they will fulfil my commitment to make child protection procedures in
schools in Northern Ireland second to none.' Turning to the Children's
Safeguards Review carried out by the Department of Health and Social
Services into residential care, foster care and day care, the Minister said:
"I appreciate that the vast majority of parents and substitute carers do not
harm children, and the incidence of known abuse is small. However, I and my
Departments know there is no room for complacency. Last August I asked Dr
McCoy, Chief Inspector, to conduct a review of the safeguards in place for
children in a range of care settings in Northern Ireland. "I have written to
the Chairpersons of each of the four Health and Social Services Boards,
sending them a copy of the Safeguards Review, which has also been copied to
the Chairpersons of Trusts, Chief Executives and Directors of Social
Services. I have asked for assurances, by the end of this month, that proper
safeguards are in place in residential care, foster care and day care for
children in Northern Ireland." The Minister emphasised the need for all the
agencies concerned to work together: 'Prevention is better than cure, never
wore than in the issue of child protection. The best antidote to abuse is
sufficient awareness of child protection procedures, good communication and
mutual co-operation. "I would commend the high degree of Inter-agency
co-operation and hard work which resulted in the measures announced today.
That high degree of co-operation must continue, in the best interests of our
children, now and in the future. "All adults and organisations who have the
privilege of being in a position of trust in caring for our children and
young people need to recognise fully their responsibilities, and need to
act, always, with the best interests of young people in mind. All the
measures I have announced this morning will help and support them in this,
and will, I believe, make a real, positive difference to many children's
lives." NOTES FOR EDITORS A copy of the comprehensive guidance booklet, "
Pastoral Care In Schools: CHILD PROTECTION", is being sent to all schools
today. Copies for each teacher and each Governor in all grant-aided schools
will be issued by the middle of March. The booklet may be accessed on the
DENI Internet site:http://www.deni.gov.uk Also available on the Internet
site is a copy of the Report by Douglas Osler, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector
in Scotland, on the Education and Training Inspectorate's revised
arrangements for evaluating pastoral care.
13
6 Lisak, D. (1994). The psychological impact of sexual abuse: Content
analysis of interviews with male survivors. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 7,
525-548. Using standardized measures of symptoms, researchers have found
that men who were sexually abused in childhood, whether or not they seek out
mental health services, may suffer from: Anxiety Depression Dissociation
Hostility and anger Impaired relationships Low self-esteem Sexual
dysfunction Sleep disturbance Suicidal ideas and behavior The following
researchers have used standardized measures and found different combinations
of the above symptoms: Bagley, Wood, & Young, 1994 Briere, Evans, Runtz, &
Wall, 1988 Collings, 1995 Fromuth & Burkhart, 1989 Hunter, 1991 Olson, 1990
Peters & Range, 1995 Therapists working with men who were sexually abused in
childhood have conducted clinical case studies and consistently reported
findings on long-term problems including: Guilt and self-blame Lew, 1988;
Myers, 1989; Hunter, 1990. Low self-esteem and negative self-image Lew,
1988; Myers, 1989. Problems with intimacy Bruckner & Johnson, 1987; Dimock,
1988; Lew, 1988; Krug, 1989; Hunter, 1990. Sexual problems, compulsions, or
dysfunctions Bruckner & Johnson, 1987; Johnson & Shrier, 1987; Dimock, 1988;
Lew, 1988; Myers, 1989; Hunter, 1990. Substance abuse and depression Krug,
1989. Symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Myers, 1989. Some of the
long-term effects of sexual abuse are related to the development of gender
identity. A number of clinicians' case studies indicate that male survivors
of childhood sexual abuse may experience: Attempts to "prove" their
masculinity by having multiple female sexual partners, sexually victimizing
others, and/or engaging in dangerous or violent behaviors Bruckner &
Johnson, 1987; Lew 1988. Confusion over their gender and sexual identities
Nasjleti, 1980; Bruckner & Johnson, 1987; Johnson & Shrier, 1987; Dimock,
1988; Lew, 1988; Myers, 1989; Gilgun & Reiser, 1990. Sense of being
inadequate as men Dimock, 1988; Lew, 1988; Myers, 1989; Pierce & Pierce,
1985. Sense of lost power, control, and confidence in their manhood Myers,
1989. Finally, some clinicians have noted that sexually abused males often
experience confusion and distress about their sexuality: Confusion about
their own sexual orientation Nasjleti, 1980; Dimock, 1988; Lew, 1988; Myers,
1989; Gilgun & Reiser, 1990. Fear that the sexual abuse has caused or will
cause them to become homosexual Nasjleti, 1980; Finkelhor, 1984; Dimock,
1988; Gilgun & Reiser, 1990; Lew, 1988; Myers, 1989. Homophobia, an
irrational fear or intolerance of homosexuality Gilgun & Reiser, 1990; Lew,
1988; Myers, 1989.
6 Judith Lewis Herman is Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at
Harvard Medical School and Training Director of the Victims of Violence
Program at Cambridge Hospital. Trauma and Recovery 1992 "It is very tempting
to take the side of the perpetrator. All the perpetrator asks is that the
bystander do nothing. He appeals to the universal desire to see, hear, and
speak no evil. The victim, on the contrary, asks the bystander to share the
burden of the pain. The victim demands action, engagement, and remembering.
. . . In order to escape accountability for his crimes, the perpetrator does
everything in his power to promote forgetting. Secrecy and silence are the
perpetrator's first line of defense. If secrecy fails, the perpetrator
attacks the credibility of his victim. If he cannot silence her absolutely,
he tries to make sure that no one listens. To this end, he marshals an
impressive array of arguments, from the most blatant denial to the most
sophisticated and elegant rationalization. After every atrocity one can
expect to hear the same predictable apologies: it never happened; the victim
lies; the victim exaggerates; the victim brought it on herself; and in any
case it is time to forget the past and move on. The more powerful the
perpetrator, the greater is his prerogative to name and define reality, and
the more completely his arguments prevail. The perpetrator's arguments prove
irresistible when the bystander faces them in isolation. Without a
supportive social environment, the bystander usually succumbs to the
temptation to look the other way. This is true even when the victim is an
idealized and valued member of society. Soldiers in every war, even those
who have been regarded as heroes, complain bitterly that no one wants to
know the real truth about war. When the victim is already devalued (a woman,
a child), she may find that the most traumatic events in her life take place
outside the realm of socially validated reality. Her experience becomes
unspeakable. . . .
7 Chambers Students' Dictionary 1975
8 A sample of 595 men were administered self-report assessments of childhood
sexual and physical abuse, perpetration history, gender rigidity and
emotional constriction. Including noncontact forms of sexual abuse, 11% of
the men reported sexual abuse alone, 17% reported physical abuse alone, and
17% reported sexual and physical abuse. Of the 257 men in the sample who
reported some form of childhood abuse, 38% reported some form of
perpetration themselves, either sexual or physical; of the 126 perpetrators,
70% reported having been abused in childhood. Thus, most perpetrators were
abused but most abused men did not perpetrate. Both sexually and physically
abused men who perpetrated manifested significantly more gender rigidity and
emotional constriction than abused perpetrators. Men who reported abuse but
did not perpetrate demonstrated significantly less gender rigidity, less
homophobia and less emotional constriction than nonabused men. Lisak, D.,
Hopper, J., & Song, P. (1996). Factors in the cycle of violence: Gender
rigidity and emotional constriction. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 9,721-743.
http://www.zyworld.com/bangorgrammar/Home.htm
(Email address - Or use discussion forum
http://www.netbabbler.com/goto/?forumid=18184)
Bangor County Down Ulster Northern Ireland UK United Kingdom
antr...@yahoo.co.uk
"Thomas" <patto...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> Lindsay Brown - the marrying type?
>
> Shame Of Bible Bashing Child Abusing Pervert
>
> Bangor County Down Ulster, Northern Ireland UK United Kingdom
>
> Case Study of a Fixated Paedophile
>
> Lindsay Brown, the vice principal of Bangor Grammar School and founder
of
> the Scripture Union in Northern Ireland was convicted in February 1998
of
> abusing boys over three decades.
snip
> http://www.zyworld.com/bangorgrammar/Home.htm
>
> (Email address - Or use discussion forum
> http://www.netbabbler.com/goto/?forumid=18184)
>
> Bangor County Down Ulster Northern Ireland UK United Kingdom
I always thought Bangor the most stuck up place in NI.
It's no surprise that the school is run by cocksuckers
>
>
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
Ben Madigan
<antr...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message news:80c2ar$urm$1...@nnrp1.deja.com...
> >
> > Shame Of Bible Bashing Child Abusing Pervert
> >
> > Bangor County Down Ulster, Northern Ireland UK United Kingdom
> >
> > Case Study of a Fixated Paedophile
> >
> > Lindsay Brown, the vice principal of Bangor Grammar School and founder
> of
> > the Scripture Union in Northern Ireland was convicted in February 1998
> of
> > abusing boys over three decades.
>
> > http://www.zyworld.com/bangorgrammar/Home.htm
> >
> > (Email address - Or use discussion forum
> > http://www.netbabbler.com/goto/?forumid=18184)
> >
> > Bangor County Down Ulster Northern Ireland UK United Kingdom
>
>
> It's no surprise that the school is run by cocksuckers
Have you taken a drive round some of Bangors estates like Kilcoolie ? They
are like the Shankill