IICSA Inquiry - Birmingham Investigation 16 November 2018 1 Friday, 16 November 2018 1 I was sent there by Social Services, because they 2 (10.00 am) 2 considered me to be retarded. I was not. Many years 3 THE CHAIR: Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the fifth 3 later, an educational report indicated that I had in 4 day of this public hearing. Ms Carey? 4 fact been misplaced there. 5 MS CAREY: Good morning, chair. May I, before we call 5 The nuns would belittle me. Most days, I would be 6 Archbishop Longley, deal with some matters outstanding 6 physically abused. I ran away from Croome Court three 7 from yesterday. 7 or four times, and on one of those occasions, I actually 8 Housekeeping 8 tried to kill myself. 9 MS CAREY: You will recall that when both Mrs Shearer and 9 "When I ran away, I disclosed to Social Services 10 Mr Child were being asked questions, some passages of 10 that I ran away because I was being beaten, but they 11 the statement of Kevin Caffrey were put to them. It was 11 simply drove me back to Croome Court. 12 our intention to read out some of his statement into the 12 "On another occasion after I ran away, I refused to 13 record, but it seems to all -- and there is no dissent 13 go back. My parents had to go to a meeting as they did 14 from my learned friends for the core participants -- 14 not want me to go back to Croome Court, but for reasons 15 that it is better to publish his statement, and that 15 that are not clear to me, I remained there. I tried to 16 will be done. The reference for his statement is 16 run away again, but the nuns caught me, they beat me, 17 CHC001613. Can I make it plain, we will also be 17 stripped me naked and lashed me with a leather strap. 18 publishing the statement of Canon Oakley, which is 18 On another occasion, I ran away and was picked up by the 19 CHC001597, and that of Monsignor Menezes, CHC001539. 19 police as I was sleeping rough. I told the police why 20 Statement of WITNESS RC-A494 (read) 20 but they did not believe me. The archbishop visited. 21 MS CAREY: Before I call the archbishop, can I read into the 21 I think it was Archbishop Dwyer. I told him what the 22 record a summary of a complainant known as RC-A494. 22 nuns had done. He said, 'Nuns wouldn't do that. They 23 A494 says as follows: 23 are nice people'. 24 "I arrived at Croome Court in the 1960s. 24 "From there I went to Father Hudson's Home and 25 Croome Court was run by an order of Catholic nuns. 25 a number of other institutions before being placed in Page 1 Page 2 1 a different school. At that school, I remember an 1 RC-A579, INQ002955; and Daniel Mackle, INQ003129. 2 occasion where I left my dormitory late one night to see 2 Chair, can I now call, please, Archbishop Longley? 3 if I could find something to eat. RC-F264 caught me and 3 ARCHBISHOP BERNARD LONGLEY (sworn) 4 took me into his office. He shouted at me, asking me 4 Examination by MS CAREY 5 why I was out of bed. 5 MS CAREY: You are the Most Reverend Archbishop 6 "He then started caressing my arm in an obviously 6 Bernard Longley? 7 sexual manner and stroking me. I knew immediately what 7 A. Yes. 8 was going on, so I pushed him away and then he hit me. 8 Q. And the current Archbishop of Birmingham? 9 "F264 did not try to sexually abuse me again, but 9 A. Yes. 10 I believe he was trying to groom me. He would often 10 Q. A little bit, please, Archbishop, about your background, 11 chat to me and try to find things in common. 11 and I am looking, chair, in the archbishop's first 12 "I first contacted the archdiocese in 2015. I was 12 statement behind A/1 in your bundle 8. 13 told I could get my records from Jane Jones and so 13 Archbishop, I think in fact you have made three 14 I phoned her. In 2016, she came to visit me at my home 14 statements to the inquiry, and we will be going to 15 and I recounted my entire story of the abuse at 15 various passages of those throughout your evidence. If 16 Croome Court. The abuse has had a huge impact on my 16 you would like to refer to your statement, please do. 17 life. It sticks with you and it affects your trust in 17 A. Thank you. 18 people." 18 Q. I think, having studied in English language and 19 Chair, there were, as you know, a number of 19 literature, at New College, Oxford, in the '70s, you 20 complainants who have made statements, and indeed 20 went on to study at the seminary, which was 21 victims who have made statements, that we have been 21 St John's Seminary in Wonersh, and were ordained deacon 22 unable to adduce during the hearing, but, again, the 22 in 1980 and a priest on 12 December 1981? 23 inquiry will be publishing today the statement of RC-A15 23 A. Yes. 24 at INQ001748; that of Brian Hennessy, INQ001962; A32, 24 Q. You have held a number of appointments within the 25 INQ002639; A33, INQ002640; Eamonn Flanaghan, INQ002767; 25 church, and I would just like to summarise some of Page 3 Page 4 1 (Pages 1 to 4) Epiq Europe Ltd www.epiqglobal.com 8th Floor, 165 Fleet Street (+44)207 4041400 [email protected] London EC4A 2DY IICSA Inquiry - Birmingham Investigation 16 November 2018 1 those, looking at your paragraph 5.2. You were a deacon 1 a division of the diocese, a number of parishes, would 2 at a parish in Weybridge, an assistant priest in Epsom, 2 have pastoral oversight over those and would, in 3 you did some further studies in Dogmatic Theology at the 3 particular, get to know the communities there -- the 4 Venerable English College in Rome, and then, 4 clergy, the religious and that part of the diocese. 5 from September 1987 to August 1996, a staff member at 5 Then, typically, he would work with the archbishop 6 St John's Seminary in Wonersh. You have held the 6 and the other auxiliaries, and the Vicars General, if 7 position of secretary in the Department for Mission and 7 there were more than one, in relation to the governance 8 Unity of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and 8 of the diocese in support of the archbishop as an 9 Wales, and in 2003 to 2009 were the auxiliary bishop of 9 advisory group. 10 Westminster. 10 Q. I think it was on 1 October 2009 that you were nominated 11 A. Yes. 11 by Pope Benedict as the Archbishop of Birmingham and 12 Q. Could you just help us, please. We haven't heard very 12 were installed on 8 December of that year? 13 much about the role of an auxiliary bishop. How would 13 A. Yes. 14 you summarise that? 14 Q. Could you just help us, then, please, in your capacity 15 A. Within Westminster and certain other dioceses, 15 as archbishop, give us a summary of your 16 particularly a large diocese or an archdiocese, it's 16 responsibilities and roles? 17 quite usual for the bishop of the diocese or the 17 A. Well, it's a very wide scope the responsibility within 18 archbishop to be assisted in his work by one or more 18 the archdiocese itself, in particular for all the 19 auxiliary bishops. So that's in order to enable, 19 parishes of the archdiocese, so parish communities, to 20 particularly if there's a large diocese, I say, a wide 20 ensure there is pastoral provision for the parishioners, 21 geographical spread, for the work of the archbishop to 21 for the people within each parish, and we have, as you 22 be shared. Within Westminster, and this would happen in 22 know, more than 220. 23 certain other dioceses as well, a geographical area 23 Within that also, within each parish, we have 24 might be given to an auxiliary bishop as a pastoral 24 a number of schools -- 240 schools -- so ultimately, I'd 25 area, so that he would have responsibility for 25 have responsibility, too, for Catholic education within, Page 5 Page 6 1 and sometimes beyond, the schools in the archdiocese. 1 whole scope of clergy issues. Schools I have mentioned 2 So particular support for families and for married 2 and parishes, pastoral provision for parishes, 3 life. The catechesis, preparation of children and of 3 education, catechesis, and of course, within all of 4 older people for the sacraments. And the preparation of 4 those areas, safeguarding which pervades, and that's 5 those who would be catechists, and we are blessed to 5 a responsibility which is -- it is both specific within 6 have an institution called the Maryvale Institute in 6 the safeguarding unit but also pervasive in all of those 7 Birmingham which undertakes that work. 7 areas of church life. 8 Alongside that, I suppose there's the whole area of 8 Q.