College will 'continue to co-operate'

October 02, 2008

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A SPOKESMAN for the college said their prayers were with Green's victims.

He said: "St Bede's and the Diocese of Salford have co-operated fully in all aspects of this case and will continue to co-operate with police and other agencies as necessary.

"The college has in place full safeguarding policies and procedures which are compliant with current legislation.

"The governors and staff at St Bede's College remain fully committed to the protection and safety of children and young people. This is a matter of great regret to all concerned. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected and their families."

The college was founded in 1876 and remains one of the country's leading Catholic schools. Until 1984 it admitted only boys, with some boarders, but it is now a mixed independent day school with nearly 1,000 pupils.

The annual fees of the school in Alexander Park are between £4,000 and £6,000.

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Mike Black (02/10/2008 at 14:09)

Commencing any programme of litigation against St. Bede's College for the sins of one man will be counter-productive.

It will ultimately punish young people and their parents who wish to partake in a superb education; it is morally offensive to follow up a conviction with a civil case against an employer (in this case, St. Bede's) when the real fault is with Green, and those who allowed him to pursue a career as a Catholic Priest without first checking his emotional and psychological suitability.

Blame Baeda College in Rome, where Green is said to have trained!

Patience 1977 (02/10/2008 at 19:13)

Perhaps, but as I recall (and I'm a former pupil from the Green era...) it's easy to endorse the comments of Michael Black, but this whole thing smacks of a witch hunt....and an opportunity for the lawyers to cash-in....

paulipips, levenshulme (03/10/2008 at 01:30)

I was a pupil at Bedes from 71 to 76 and it was fairly obvious to all that Bill Green was a subscriber to the male on male lifestyle.....and there were plenty of other teachers there who were 'bachelors' - so what - its called the rich tapestry of life. Lots of things went on there that would be frowned on in todays bland PC world but when loads of us old boys get together for a drink and talk about those old days we have a great laugh about it all because it was such an eccentric old place. I'm glad I went to Bedes and all the other guys I know from that time are to. Now Its all going to turn into a vast feeding ground for sleazy leaching Lawyers . Its a damned shame.

Miss Red, Manchester (03/10/2008 at 22:03)

I find several of the comments posted extremely offensive as I know several of the victim's and can assure everyone that they do not laugh about "their old days at St Bede's" or view this as "part of the rich tapestry of life". If you care to view the interview given by one anonymous victim (available on the BBC website) it is evident that this particular victim has served a sentence of some 30 years. He surely deserves compensation from somewhere!

timmz, Wallsend (08/10/2008 at 00:40)

I find most of the comments offensive. I attended St Bede's between 1970 and 1975 (I also attended the primary school where Mr Green, as he was then, taught).
While I did not suffer at his hands, I suffered at the sadistic hands of the nuns, and then when I went on to St Bede's at the hands of other priests whom I would say were nasty and evil with their beatings.
When the priests were not beating me, the many bullies in my year were making my life hell. I felt suicidal then and needed help. That was the culture at St Bede's. Thanks lads, with the exception of 3 of you who kept me going.
That is why I hope and pray that St Bede's is made to compensate people,instead of all this 'old boys' and 'pat yourself on the back, and blame somebody else' nonsense. St Bede's you fostered this abuse.

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