ROY FEATHER FROM ORMSKIRK JAILED FOR CHILD ABUSE AT LANCASTER CHILDREN'S HOME

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Ormskirk and the wider Lancashire region, Roy Feather, a 74-year-old man, was sentenced to four years in prison after being convicted of multiple counts of abusing young girls under his care at a children’s home. The allegations against Feather emerged several years after the incidents, prompting thorough investigations by both Merseyside and Lancashire police forces.

Feather, a grandfather residing on Derby Hill Road in Ormskirk, faced a total of 11 charges of indecent assault. These charges were related to seven girls who had been residents at Quarry Mount, a now-demolished children’s home where Feather and his wife had been involved in its operation since 1975. The court proceedings revealed disturbing details about Feather’s conduct during his time at the home, which spanned over seven years.

According to evidence presented at Preston Crown Court, Feather, who had taken on the role of House Parent alongside his wife, was accused of regularly visiting the girls’ dormitories during nighttime hours. It was alleged that these visits were not merely for supervision but involved inappropriate and indecent behavior. The assaults reportedly occurred both within the dormitories and in other parts of the home, which had been a place of refuge for many vulnerable children before its closure.

Further details from the court indicated that Feather’s misconduct was part of a pattern of behavior that persisted over several years. The court heard that Feather’s actions included inappropriate touching during what he claimed were innocent “tickling games” with the children. Additionally, he was accused of visiting the girls’ sleeping areas after lights out, under the pretext of checking for pets, but instead engaging in indecent acts with some of the girls.

Prosecutor Nick Courtney highlighted that although some children had made allegations at the time, the environment of the home was such that these claims were often dismissed or overlooked. The police investigation, which was launched in July 2000 following a series of complaints, uncovered a disturbing pattern of abuse. The initial complaint had been made the previous year by a girl who claimed she had been assaulted at Quarry Mount, and subsequent testimonies revealed similar accounts from other victims.

Court records also revealed that Feather resigned from his position in October 1982 after being found in a girl’s room by an assistant. His resignation was officially attributed to inappropriate behavior, though Feather insisted he was only comforting a girl experiencing a nightmare. During police interviews, Feather vehemently denied any sexual misconduct, maintaining his innocence throughout the proceedings.

As the case concluded, Feather was found guilty on multiple counts of indecent assault, leading to his four-year imprisonment. The case has brought to light the dark history of Quarry Mount and has raised ongoing concerns about safeguarding children in institutional care settings. The community of Ormskirk and the wider Lancashire area continues to grapple with the implications of this disturbing chapter in local history.