Unofficial Christ's Hospital Forum

Golfer wrote: ↑Fri Aug 24, 2018 10:31 pm Much to ponder for me and the school, Ross. I wish I had done something to help but I didn't and that's something I have to live with.
In response to CodFlabAndMuck I would say that MidA from the outside seemed a house which was popular with the boys. In addition I had the impression that it came to have tutors who were sympathetic and sensitive, which ought to help guard against abuse by someone in power.
As a housemaster of a girls' house at the other end of the avenue I had little to do with Dobbie and we were probably colleagues rather than friends. But I was shocked at the news of his trial and conviction as I had no inkling of any such issues from MidA - one of the reasons I was pressing on whether there was abuse in the house itself.
I would add that house parents did invariably focus on their own houses as there were still 25 periods to teach as well as running the place and dealing with the myriad issues that cropped up daily.
IIRC my understanding is that the evidence of Dobbie's actual abuse of boys emerged only recently after the publicity surrounding the initial female victim, not from any disclosures at the time or at the time of his departure (which was after I had left).

Golfer wrote: ↑Sat Aug 25, 2018 7:57 am The disclosure to CH's child protection officer coming more than a decade after Dobbie had left, I believe.

I confess that I don't know what the correct procedure is in such circumstances. A school doesn't have the ability to conduct a full and fair investigation because it can't compel key people to answer questions.

I can't see how the school could have gone public in any way without being guilty of defamation - we are still a country where people are presumed innocent before conviction. In the end, in spite of the long and brutal road for the victim to travel, going through the police and the courts was the best and only way to achieve the outcome she desired i.e. the protection of future potential victims.

bakunin wrote: ↑Sat Aug 25, 2018 12:32 am "Father Porteous" sounds like a character from Father Ted. I don't remember him from my time there. Perhaps his quirk would be denying everything.

That would be an ecumenical matter.

Golfer wrote: ↑Sat Aug 25, 2018 7:57 am The disclosure to CH's child protection officer coming more than a decade after Dobbie had left, I believe.

I confess that I don't know what the correct procedure is in such circumstances. A school doesn't have the ability to conduct a full and fair investigation because it can't compel key people to answer questions.

I can't see how the school could have gone public in any way without being guilty of defamation - we are still a country where people are presumed innocent before conviction. In the end, in spite of the long and brutal road for the victim to travel, going through the police and the courts was the best and only way to achieve the outcome she desired i.e. the protection of future potential victims.

richardb wrote: ↑Sat Aug 25, 2018 10:27 am

Golfer wrote: ↑Sat Aug 25, 2018 7:57 am The disclosure to CH's child protection officer coming more than a decade after Dobbie had left, I believe.

I confess that I don't know what the correct procedure is in such circumstances. A school doesn't have the ability to conduct a full and fair investigation because it can't compel key people to answer questions.

I can't see how the school could have gone public in any way without being guilty of defamation - we are still a country where people are presumed innocent before conviction. In the end, in spite of the long and brutal road for the victim to travel, going through the police and the courts was the best and only way to achieve the outcome she desired i.e. the protection of future potential victims.

The school should have involved the police. As it should do now.

CodFlabAndMuck wrote: ↑Sat Aug 25, 2018 11:32 am Are we really saying that as recently as 2011 the school's CPO was made aware of criminal allegations against a former employee and just sat on it?

CodFlabAndMuck wrote: ↑Fri Aug 24, 2018 11:00 pm I was prepared for confirmation by Porteous and Dobbie, and confirmed by Ball.
You couldnt make it up

Golfer wrote: ↑Sat Aug 25, 2018 3:13 pm I'm happy to admit that I am out of my depth here as my safeguarding training relates to accusations against CURRENT members of staff.

Is there a difference between a case divulged by a 15 year old (who doesn't have agency and so the guidelines are that the police are automacically involved) and a 30+ year old?

And a further question.
Is there any difference when the accused is a member of staff or has moved to a different institution?

Golfer wrote: ↑Sat Aug 25, 2018 3:20 pm

CodFlabAndMuck wrote: ↑Sat Aug 25, 2018 11:32 am Are we really saying that as recently as 2011 the school's CPO was made aware of criminal allegations against a former employee and just sat on it?

No comment on your post but I believe you have the wrong date.

LHA wrote: ↑Sat Aug 25, 2018 9:14 am am interested in why only two teachers have commented publicly.

richardb wrote: ↑Sat Aug 25, 2018 7:17 pm It was before 2016. Had the school done something then the police would have been involved earlier.

I am curious about Golfer's knowledge about this as it suggests that he is aware from other sources of the disclosure to the school's child protection officer.

I would be interested to hear what date his sources have told him that that disclosure occurred upon.