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| {{about||the British meteorologist|Richard S. Scorer}} | |||
| ⚫ | '''Richard Scorer''' is a |
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| {{COI|date=November 2022}} | |||
| {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} | |||
| {{short description|English lawyer}} | |||
| ⚫ | '''Richard Scorer''' is a Principal Lawyer in ] in Manchester where he is Head of Abuse Law. He was formerly Head of Serious Injury at ]. | ||
| He has represented |
He has represented abuse victims in cases against local authorities, schools and churches. He acted for some of the victims of ].<ref name="Guardian 5 January 2018">{{cite news |last1= Booth |first1= Robert | last2= Weaver |first2= Matthew | last3= Dodd |first3= Vikram | last4= Bowcott |first4= Owen | title= John Worboys: alleged victims ready to bring fresh prosecutions, lawyer says |url= https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/jan/05/john-worboys-release-distressing-for-victims-says-parole-board-chair| date= 5 January 2018|newspaper= ] |location=London| accessdate=5 January 2018 }}</ref> He acted for some of the victims of ] in their claim against the ].<ref>{{cite news |title=John Smyth's accusers launch claim against Titus Trust |url=https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2018/24-august/news/uk/john-smyths-accusers-launch-claim-against-titus-trust |accessdate=4 December 2018 |publisher=Church Times |date=24 August 2018}}</ref> | ||
| ==Catholic church== | |||
| In his book about abuse in the Catholic Church he presented a selection of case histories running from the 1960s to the present day, including that of ]. He gave some credit to the efforts of ] and ], but the picture he painted was not optimistic. His case is that the Church continued to deny and ignore the scandal of child sexual abuse and he criticised it for the inadequate support it provided for victims.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thetablet.co.uk/books/10/2296/betrayed-the-english-catholic-church-and-the-sex-abuse-crisis |title=Betrayed: the English Catholic Church and the sex abuse crisis by Richard Scorer|accessdate=3 December 2018 |publisher=The Tablet |date=8 May 2014}}</ref> He shows how victims were disbelieved and offending priests were moved to different parishes where they found new boys to abuse and then given the chance to vanish before the law closed in.<ref>{{cite news |title=Book review: Betrayed: The English Catholic Church and the Sex Abuse Crisis |url=https://www.newlawjournal.co.uk/content/book-review-betrayed-english-catholic-church-and-sex-abuse-crisis |accessdate=3 December 2018 |publisher=New Law Journal |date=6 June 2014}}</ref> He said that the Papal document ] showed that the Church systematically covered up abuse and tried to silence victims.<ref>{{cite news |title=Vatican told bishops to cover up sex abuse |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/aug/17/religion.childprotection |accessdate=3 December 2018 |publisher=Guardian |date=17 August 2003}}</ref> | |||
| ==Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse== | ==Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse== | ||
| He |
He represented 68 victims and survivors of abuse before the ]. including former pupils of ], ]<ref>{{cite news |title=Child abuse inquiry: School 'reputations put before victims' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-45127284 |accessdate=4 December 2018 |publisher=BBC |date=9 August 2018}}</ref> and ], and victims of the late ] MP. | ||
| In 2018 he called for ], the former leader of ] to be prosecuted for perjury when he was found to have lied under oath to the inquiry. He said that staff attitudes in the council had improved but that Rochdale political culture was still stuck in a backwards time warp and remained in desperate need of reform.<ref>{{cite news |title=Lawyer calls for perjury charges to be considered against Rochdale's former council leader Richard Farnell |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/lawyer-calls-perjury-charges-considered-14523007 |accessdate=3 December 2018 |publisher=Manchester Evening News |date=12 April 2018}}</ref> | |||
| He has written extensively about the work of the inquiry for the ] |
He has written extensively about the work of the inquiry for the ],<ref>{{cite news |title=Author: Richard Scorer |url=https://www.secularism.org.uk/opinion/authors/859 |accessdate=4 December 2018 |publisher=National Secular Society |date=2018}}</ref> of which he is vice-president.<ref>{{cite news |title=Survivors say Church hierarchy failing to lead on child abuse |url=https://www.secularism.org.uk/news/2017/12/survivors-say-church-hierarchy-failing-to-lead-on-child-abuse |accessdate=6 December 2018 |publisher=National Secular Society |date=7 June 2017}}</ref> | ||
| ] was suspended from his membership of the Liberal Democrat Party in 2019 after he admitted to the inquiry that he had known about ]'s child abuse. Scorer said “His failure to stop Smith in 1979, allowing him to go on and abuse more young boys, is inexcusable and he must be held to account." He called for him to be stripped of his peerage.<ref>{{cite news |title=David Steel suspended from Lib Dems over Cyril Smith revelation |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/mar/14/david-steel-faces-suspension-from-lib-dems-over-cyril-smith-revelation?CMP=share_btn_tw |accessdate=17 March 2019 |publisher=Guardian |date=14 March 2019}}</ref> | |||
| ==Church of England== | ==Church of England== | ||
| He |
He criticised the Church of England saying that it had orchestrated years of institutional cover-up and denial and could not be trusted to put its own house in order. It had created a perfect environment in which abusers could flourish. He called for an independent body to be set up which could investigate allegations of abuse and override bishops who were unwilling to comply with their responsibilities.<ref>{{cite news |title=Church of England put reputation first, child abuse inquiry told |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/05/church-of-england-put-reputation-first-child-abuse-inquiry-told |accessdate=3 December 2018 |publisher=Guardian |date=5 March 2018}}</ref> He said that Bishop ] had found his fellow bishops to be the “perfect accomplices, prepared to turn a blind eye to his abuse over many decades”.<ref>{{cite news |title=Establishment 'rallied to help ex-bishop later jailed for abuse' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jul/23/establishment-rallied-to-help-ex-bishop-later-jailed-for-abuse |accessdate=4 December 2018 |publisher=Guardian |date=23 July 2018}}</ref> | ||
| ==Safeguarding boards== | ==Safeguarding boards== | ||
| He |
He criticised proposals to dispense with local ] children’s boards in the ], because there would be no statutory obligation to involve all the relevant agencies.<ref>{{cite news |title=The government is jeopardising progress on child sexual exploitation |url=https://www.theguardian.com/social-care-network/2017/apr/25/the-government-is-jeopardising-progress-on-child-sexual-exploitation |accessdate=4 December 2018 |publisher=Guardian |date=25 April 2017}}</ref> | ||
| ==Publications== | |||
| *APIL Guide to Child Abuse Compensation Claims (with Elizabeth-Anne Gumbal QC, and Malcolm Johnson, 2011 | |||
| *Betrayed - The English Catholic Church and the sex abuse crisis, Biteback Publishing, 2014 | |||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
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Latest revision as of 14:40, 23 November 2022
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English lawyer
Richard Scorer is a Principal Lawyer in Slater and Gordon Lawyers in Manchester where he is Head of Abuse Law. He was formerly Head of Serious Injury at Pannone LLP.
He has represented abuse victims in cases against local authorities, schools and churches. He acted for some of the victims of John Worboys. He acted for some of the victims of John Smyth in their claim against the Titus Trust.
Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse
He represented 68 victims and survivors of abuse before the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse. including former pupils of Downside School, Ampleforth College and Chetham's School of Music, and victims of the late Cyril Smith MP.
In 2018 he called for Richard Farnell, the former leader of Rochdale Council to be prosecuted for perjury when he was found to have lied under oath to the inquiry. He said that staff attitudes in the council had improved but that Rochdale political culture was still stuck in a backwards time warp and remained in desperate need of reform.
He has written extensively about the work of the inquiry for the National Secular Society, of which he is vice-president.
David Steel was suspended from his membership of the Liberal Democrat Party in 2019 after he admitted to the inquiry that he had known about Cyril Smith's child abuse. Scorer said “His failure to stop Smith in 1979, allowing him to go on and abuse more young boys, is inexcusable and he must be held to account." He called for him to be stripped of his peerage.
Church of England
He criticised the Church of England saying that it had orchestrated years of institutional cover-up and denial and could not be trusted to put its own house in order. It had created a perfect environment in which abusers could flourish. He called for an independent body to be set up which could investigate allegations of abuse and override bishops who were unwilling to comply with their responsibilities. He said that Bishop Peter Ball had found his fellow bishops to be the “perfect accomplices, prepared to turn a blind eye to his abuse over many decades”.
Safeguarding boards
He criticised proposals to dispense with local safeguarding children’s boards in the Children and Social Work Bill, because there would be no statutory obligation to involve all the relevant agencies.
References
- Booth, Robert; Weaver, Matthew; Dodd, Vikram; Bowcott, Owen (5 January 2018). "John Worboys: alleged victims ready to bring fresh prosecutions, lawyer says". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
- "John Smyth's accusers launch claim against Titus Trust". Church Times. 24 August 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
- "Child abuse inquiry: School 'reputations put before victims'". BBC. 9 August 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
- "Lawyer calls for perjury charges to be considered against Rochdale's former council leader Richard Farnell". Manchester Evening News. 12 April 2018. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
- "Author: Richard Scorer". National Secular Society. 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
- "Survivors say Church hierarchy failing to lead on child abuse". National Secular Society. 7 June 2017. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
- "David Steel suspended from Lib Dems over Cyril Smith revelation". Guardian. 14 March 2019. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
- "Church of England put reputation first, child abuse inquiry told". Guardian. 5 March 2018. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
- "Establishment 'rallied to help ex-bishop later jailed for abuse'". Guardian. 23 July 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
- "The government is jeopardising progress on child sexual exploitation". Guardian. 25 April 2017. Retrieved 4 December 2018.