NOEL RYAN FROM CLYWDHALL SENTENCED TO 12 YEARS FOR CHILD SEX ABUSE IN NORTH WALES AND BOLTON

In a case that has left the community devastated and many calling for justice, Noel Ryan, a 66-year-old man from Bolton, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison after admitting to multiple charges of child sexual abuse. The crimes took place at Clywd Hall, a residential special school in North Wales, where Ryan worked as a house parent during the 1970s and early 1980s.

Ryan pleaded guilty to a total of 14 charges related to the sexual abuse of boys under his care. The allegations include three grave sexual offences committed on one particular boy, an attempted offence on another, and ten counts of indecent assault against various other boys. The severity of his actions and the breach of trust placed in him by the institution have been described as extremely grave by the presiding judge, Morgan Hughes.

One of the victims, a man who wishes to remain anonymous but is known only as Terry, was present in the public gallery during the sentencing at Chester Crown Court. Terry, who was referred to Clywd Hall in the 1970s after fleeing sectarian violence in Northern Ireland, recounted the profound impact of Ryan’s abuse on his life. Wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the words “used and abused by paedophiles,” Terry expressed his feelings of devastation and betrayal. He revealed that he was subjected to regular abuse by Ryan, which he claims has destroyed his life.

He described Ryan as “evil” and stated that he believed Ryan deserved a life sentence. Terry also criticized the justice system, saying, “It makes me sick that some people have said there should be consideration to the age of these paedophiles when they are sentenced. They didn’t consider our ages when they raped us.” He shared that he is now 31 years old, but his life has been marred by scars, self-harm, and heavy drinking, all of which he attributes to the trauma inflicted by Ryan.

Terry called for a comprehensive national inquiry into care homes, emphasizing the need for accountability and transparency. He expressed frustration with the current system, stating, “You get more for attacks on property than you do for wrecking people’s lives.”

During the court proceedings, Patrick Harrington QC, representing Ryan, acknowledged that his client had a defect in his character and had succumbed to temptation. Harrington emphasized that Ryan was remorseful, willing to accept his punishment, and expressed more concern for his victims than for himself. It was also revealed that Ryan himself had been abused as a child, adding a tragic dimension to the case.

Judge Morgan Hughes described the case as a colossal breach of trust, highlighting that Ryan was in a position of authority over vulnerable children sent to Clywd Hall due to difficult home circumstances. The judge’s comments underscored the gravity of the offences and the profound betrayal of trust involved in the case.