As the number of ex St Joseph's pupils coming forward with appalling accounts of abuse continues to rise, I've made a seperate page for those wishing to publicly disclose what happened to them (or someone known to them) when at Oak Hill / St Joseph's / Birkfield.
If that's you and you need to share your story, feel free to do so in the comments (moderated). Please be aware that Suffolk Police know about this blog from my own statement to them.
For support organisations, please see links the end of this post.
Please note, I'm not always in the mood to be dealing with this horrible stuff so may take quite some time to respond.
Case 1.
This is testimony from my own brother. I have redacted the name of his abuser for the time being:
At Oak Hill * he would tell us "Swimming today."
"But Sir, we don't have our swimming trunks!"
" Well, you go naked."
So we did. And he walked around the pool, making us all sit along the side, examining us.
Woke from bad dreams (aged 11) featuring adult male genitalia, wondering how the hell I knew what that looked like. In my conscious mind, I couldn't understand how I had such a clear visual knowledge of an aroused adult man. I was scared shitless.
Every day going to school I was filled with fear and anxiety. I believed it was because I was a bad student.
About 10-15 years ago I had recall of being ordered into his office after said swimming sessions.
I remember walking out with Mum on the last day saying " I never want to see that place again."
Mum saying,"Why would you say that? It's a wonderful school" or some such. I couldn't answer. I didn't know why I hated and feared the place.**
I thought I was at least free of the terrifying bastard. But day one at St Joseph's College, guess who's there with his shit-eating sly grin, his asshole moustache. My heart sank.
First day of games: 'No underwear allowed". Then he pulled me out in front of class, made me stand on a box and humiliated me.
* Oak Hill was St Joseph's junior/prep school
** How would a 10/11 year old have the language to describe sexual abuse in the early 70's?
*** Meaning he groped/molested my brother in front of class
This creep died in 2021, and St Joseph's, of course, give him a glowing tribute in their magazine. People can probably work it out.
There's more to the way his experience and mine link with _.
Case 2.
A guy whose name is on my list of about 90 names I remember from St Joseph's has been in contact with me and shared what happened to him as a boarder at the hands of Brother Kevin. He sued De La Salle and
"...they settled out of court...No admission, no apology. But it was very clear that they were aware of more than one allegation about Kevin..."
Okay, so no admission of guilt nor apology yet happy enough to pay out for something they weren't responsible for then... what the hell is the matter with them, thinking they can buy our silence?
Case 3.
Pat has been championing the cause of St Joseph's survivors. He deserves every good thing and answers from DLS and the Catholic Church.
I'm still heartbroken about so much of the spiritual abuse dished out by that self-proclaimed "one, true church"let alone the sexual abuse they try to cover up to this day.
Case 4.
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