Abuse victims' compensation

A court has ruled that the Roman Catholic Diocese of Middlesbrough is not solely responsible for paying-out eight milion pounds in compensation to victims of alleged abuse at a former Catholic school near York.

A hundred and seventy former pupils at St William's school claim to have suffered appalling physical and sexual abuse within the home.

The diocese believe that the Roman Catholic Order of Brothers, which it hired to run the school, should share liability.

Today, in a landmark ruling, a judge at the Supreme Court agreed.

You can watch the full report from Kenny Toal below.

170 former pupils say that they were victims of a brutal regime which went unchecked for thirty years at St WIlliams School, where it is alleged that a catalogue of sexual and physical abuse took place.

Whilst the Supreme Court's decision is seen to be a landmark for securing liability for the cases of abuse at the school, it will not bring the closure that victims like Lance Basnett need.

170 former pupils at St William's school in Middlesbrough claim that they suffered appalling physical and sexual abuse within the home.

The diocese claimed the Roman Catholic De La Salle Order of Brothers, which it hired to run the school, should share the liability for the cases of abuse.

In a landmark ruling, a judge at the Supreme Court agreed that the liability did not solely lie with the diocese.

Dr Jim Whiston says that the decision made by the Supreme Court has vindicated the diocese's view.

A court has ruled that the Roman Catholic Diocese of Middlesbrough is not solely responsible for paying-out eight milion pounds in compensation to alleged victims of abuse at a former Catholic school near York.

The diocese claimed the Roman Catholic De La Salle Order of Brothers, which it hired to run the school, should share liability.

Keith Porteous Wood, of the National Secular Society, believes that it is wrong that people have had to wait so long for the necessary compensation.

The Supreme Court has ruled that two Catholic organisations are jointly responsible for alleged physical and sexual abuse at a children's home.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Middlesbrough and the De La Salle Roman Catholic Order, who supplied teachers, have both been held liable.

More than 170 victims came forward to report abuse at St William's care home and school in Market Weighton, near York. Abuse dating back to 1958.

The school came under the jurisdiction of the Middlesbrough diocese, but the De La Salle order was in day-to-day charge of running the place.

The Middlesbrough Diocese did not contest its responsibility for what happened. But it insisted the De La Salle order should also be held responsible for compensating any victims.

Today in a landmark ruling the Supreme Court agreed.