JOSEPH MARSHALL SHOCKS ISLE OF MAN WITH HISTORIC CHILD SEX ABUSE AT KNOTTFIELD HOME

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the Isle of Man, Joseph Marshall, an 85-year-old man, is set to face sentencing after being convicted of serious sexual offenses committed at the Knottfield children’s home during the 1970s and early 1980s. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m., where the court will determine the appropriate punishment for his actions.

Marshall, who held a senior staff position at the home located on Woodbourne Road, vehemently denied nine counts of abuse involving three boys. However, in December, a jury reached a unanimous verdict, finding him guilty on five of those charges. The allegations against him included indecent assault, gross indecency, and buggery, all of which took place behind closed doors, often in baths or in Marshall’s office, where children were called in ostensibly for reprimands but were subjected to abuse.

Historical records reveal that Marshall was previously convicted in 1992 of 13 offenses of indecent assault committed at Knottfield. He served a three-year prison sentence for those crimes. The recent conviction underscores a pattern of horrific abuse that spanned decades at the facility, which was operated by different management teams over the years.

Adding to the gravity of the situation, a comprehensive report by the Social Affairs Policy Review Committee (SAPRC) has highlighted the failure of authorities to protect vulnerable children from ongoing physical, emotional, and sexual abuse at Knottfield. The report describes the abuse as “horrific” and notes that it persisted for many years, with the authorities failing to intervene effectively.

Chief Constable Gary Roberts publicly issued an apology on behalf of the police force, acknowledging the failures of the past. The SAPRC welcomed this apology and suggested that other public officials and institutions should consider making similar statements, including Tynwald, the Isle of Man’s parliament.

In addition to Marshall’s case, authorities announced that an 82-year-old man will appear in court in the near future regarding multiple allegations of indecency offenses linked to the same children’s home during the 1970s and 1980s. The specific date for this court appearance has yet to be set.

The SAPRC’s investigation focused on two significant periods: 1961-1971 and 1973-1983, during which Knottfield was operated by two different couples. During the first period, 275 children were placed under the care of Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton. Many former residents recall a regime characterized by relentless physical brutality and emotional humiliation, which the report’s authors believe to be accurate.

Following an 18-month period under new management, Joseph Marshall and his wife took over the home in 1973. During their tenure, approximately 400 children were placed in their care. Testimonies from former residents describe a regime of “horrific physical, emotional and sexual abuse,” which the report’s authors state they believe to be true.

The report details that abuse was perpetrated not only by staff members but also by other children, adults known to the children, and even strangers both on and off the island. One survivor recounted being sexually abused by a stranger while on holiday in Kent, including an incident at Warwick Castle involving foreign football players who forced him to perform sex acts.

The committee, established in July 2017, interviewed 14 individuals—nine men and five women—who had been residents of Knottfield as children. Many of these victims felt there was no one to whom they could report the abuse, highlighting a systemic failure to protect vulnerable children.

The report also made ten recommendations aimed at preventing future abuse and improving support for survivors. These include addressing the trauma caused by police interviews, the disappearance of key inspection records, and the need for a UK-style Commissioner for Victims and Witnesses on the Isle of Man. It also called for a review of compensation arrangements for victims and a comprehensive review of safeguarding procedures across public bodies.

Despite some improvements since the home’s closure in 1983, the report warns that the risk of children suffering similar abuse or neglect remains present on the Isle of Man, emphasizing the importance of ongoing vigilance and reform.