MP Michael McCann tirelessly campaigned for a police probe
into Medomsley Detention Centre after victim John McCabe – a former
classmate at St Bride’s High School – told him of the brutal regime
which existed there.
East Kilbride News
After bravely revealing the horrific abuse he suffered when he was a
teenage inmate of an English detention centre, East Kilbride man John
McCabe has seen his battle for justice take a step forward.
MP Michael McCann tirelessly campaigned for a police probe into Medomsley Detention Centre after John – a former classmate at St Bride’s High School – told him of the brutal regime which existed there.
John, now 49, suffered six months of horrific sex abuse at the hands of prison officer Neville Husband when he was a 17-year-old inmate of the former borstal in County Durham.
Husband was jailed for 12 years in 2003 and Leslie Johnson, a store man, was sentenced to six years in 2005. Both men are now dead.
Husband is believed to have been part of a prison paedophile ring. And as a result of pressure from the East Kilbride MP, in August police in Durham in north-east England launched an investigation.
Mr McCann said: “We know that young men attempted to report abuse 30 years ago but they were let down by the authorities and John McCabe’s bravery in revealing his story has already encouraged others to come forward.
“Young men like John were detained by the state and then they were abused by agents of the state and others inside and outside Medomsley. Only Neville Husband and Lesley Johnson were convicted. The others, and there are undoubtedly others, are still at liberty. They must be caught, prosecuted and sent to jail for their heinous crimes.”
Now a dedicated team of 70 officers are working on the enquiry.
The abuse scandal at Medomsley juvenile detention centre was this week featured in a BBC documentary which revealed officers are now investigating allegations of physical and sexual abuse from over 140 former inmates.
The man in charge of the investigation, Det Superintendent Paul Goundry, told the programme new cases are still coming in. He warned: “If people have committed criminal offences they should be held to account .”
John McCabe said: “It took me a long time to come to terms with the events that took place at Medomsley when I was a young man. I had to live with the shame and the humiliation of those memories every hour of every day.
“But with the support of my family, I found the courage to speak out about what happened in that place and to search for justice, not just for me, but for the many victims.
“I went to Michael McCann for help and with his support our campaign to have the Medomsley investigation re-opened succeeded. A team of detectives are now on this case.
“I’ve given the police all I know but I also know that our calls for witnesses to come forward have led to nearly 150 victims contacting the police and telling their stories, many for the first time. I salute their bravery.
“The police must now be left to get on with their work and I believe they will be able to secure the information they need to allow them to pursue prosecutions.
Mr McCann said: “John and I have been kept informed of developments by Durham Police. The resources that have been dedicated to this investigation mean that there is a real opportunity to secure convictions.
“There will be many people across the country who participated in this abuse who will be having sleepless nights, waiting for a chap at the door from the authorities. They probably thought that after all these years they had gotten away with their crimes.
“But thanks to John McCabe and his fight for justice they‘ll have to account for their actions.
“Justice will be done but we are mindful that proper judicial processes must be followed to secure convictions and we will therefore be allowing the police to get on with their work without requesting a running commentary.”
Source
MP Michael McCann tirelessly campaigned for a police probe into Medomsley Detention Centre after John – a former classmate at St Bride’s High School – told him of the brutal regime which existed there.
John, now 49, suffered six months of horrific sex abuse at the hands of prison officer Neville Husband when he was a 17-year-old inmate of the former borstal in County Durham.
Husband was jailed for 12 years in 2003 and Leslie Johnson, a store man, was sentenced to six years in 2005. Both men are now dead.
Husband is believed to have been part of a prison paedophile ring. And as a result of pressure from the East Kilbride MP, in August police in Durham in north-east England launched an investigation.
Mr McCann said: “We know that young men attempted to report abuse 30 years ago but they were let down by the authorities and John McCabe’s bravery in revealing his story has already encouraged others to come forward.
“Young men like John were detained by the state and then they were abused by agents of the state and others inside and outside Medomsley. Only Neville Husband and Lesley Johnson were convicted. The others, and there are undoubtedly others, are still at liberty. They must be caught, prosecuted and sent to jail for their heinous crimes.”
Now a dedicated team of 70 officers are working on the enquiry.
The abuse scandal at Medomsley juvenile detention centre was this week featured in a BBC documentary which revealed officers are now investigating allegations of physical and sexual abuse from over 140 former inmates.
The man in charge of the investigation, Det Superintendent Paul Goundry, told the programme new cases are still coming in. He warned: “If people have committed criminal offences they should be held to account .”
John McCabe said: “It took me a long time to come to terms with the events that took place at Medomsley when I was a young man. I had to live with the shame and the humiliation of those memories every hour of every day.
“But with the support of my family, I found the courage to speak out about what happened in that place and to search for justice, not just for me, but for the many victims.
“I went to Michael McCann for help and with his support our campaign to have the Medomsley investigation re-opened succeeded. A team of detectives are now on this case.
“I’ve given the police all I know but I also know that our calls for witnesses to come forward have led to nearly 150 victims contacting the police and telling their stories, many for the first time. I salute their bravery.
“The police must now be left to get on with their work and I believe they will be able to secure the information they need to allow them to pursue prosecutions.
Mr McCann said: “John and I have been kept informed of developments by Durham Police. The resources that have been dedicated to this investigation mean that there is a real opportunity to secure convictions.
“There will be many people across the country who participated in this abuse who will be having sleepless nights, waiting for a chap at the door from the authorities. They probably thought that after all these years they had gotten away with their crimes.
“But thanks to John McCabe and his fight for justice they‘ll have to account for their actions.
“Justice will be done but we are mindful that proper judicial processes must be followed to secure convictions and we will therefore be allowing the police to get on with their work without requesting a running commentary.”
Source
