May 2010 Judge awards compensation to men who suffered childhood sexual abuse at St Aidan’s Care Home, Widnes TWO men whose lives were blighted by childhood sexual abuse have been awarded compensation by a High Court judge. Mr Justice Irwin ruled both men, now in their 50s, had been sexually abused by staff at St Aidan’s, a Roman Catholic care home for troubled teenagers in Widnes, during the 1960s and early 1970s. The homes became notorious following high-profile court cases in the mid-1990s that resulted in criminal convictions for a number of paedophiles who had worked at them. One member of staff, Alan Langshaw, was jailed for 10 years while Colin Dick, (pictured below) a care worker, received four years. Alan Langshaw, 42, from Moreton, Wirral, (pictured below) was jailed for 10 years for sexual offences against boys aged between 10 and 20, committed between 1977 and 1994. The offences took place while he was working at Greystone Heath, and later at St Vincent’s Community Home in Formby, Merseyside, and at Halton College, Widnes. Police confirmed that after Langshaw’s case came to light they launched an investigation last April into a number of allegations by boys at other homes in Cheshire and Merseyside. The pair – who head a group action by more than 50 people who say they were abused at St Aidan’s, or sister institution St Vincent’s, Formby – were between them awarded £57,000 damages and interest against the Nugent Care Society, which ran the homes. The judge said one of the men – referred to as ‘JA’ – had been left emotionally remote, angry and lacking trust in relationships. He endured ‘three identifiable episodes of abuse’ at the hands of a now-dead teacher and the judge awarded him £10,000 damages, and £2,000 interest, against the society, formerly known as Catholic Social Services, Liverpool. JA had a history of being bullied and taunted at school and running away from home. He was taken into care and sent to St Aidan’s aged 13 between 1969 and 1971. The judge said the other abuse victim, referred to as JPM, had probably been abused by three members of staff at St Aidan’ s. He was awarded £39,500 damages and £6,000 in interest. Another case, brought by a man referred to as RM, was dismissed after the judge said ‘discrepancies and conflicts’ in his account, the absence of long-lost evidence and the death of eye-witnesses meant there would be ‘a real risk of injustice’ if his case proceeded to trial. JPM was 14 when he was sent to St Aidan’s. He told the court he was repeatedly abused by three members of staff. It was only in the mid-1990s, almost 30 years after he left St Aidan’s, that he was first able to talk about the sexual abuse. In a statement to police, he said: “I wanted to tell my parents but couldn’t bring myself to do it.” “I believe St Aidan’s ruined my life. I have never been able to forget it. My life has been ruined and I want these people to be brought to justice”.