A ROMAN Catholic diocese has been refused the right to appeal against a ruling that it is responsible for an £8m compensation claim by child abuse victims, The Northern Echo can reveal.

The Court of Appeal yesterday denied the Middlesbrough Diocese permission to appeal to the Supreme Court against its liability in the biggest historic child abuse claim in the country.

Last month, the Middlesbrough Diocese was found accountable for the claims of up to 170 victims who were abused at St William’s Community Home, in Market Weighton, near York, between 1958 and 1992.

Judges ruled the De La Salle Brotherhood, which provided teachers at the home, had no legal responsibility, leaving accountability with the Catholic Child Welfare Society (CCWS) of the Middlesbrough Diocese.

Now, following yesterday’s Court of Appeal decision, the only option available to the Middlesbrough Diocese, if it wishes to fight the ruling, is to appeal directly to the Supreme Court. Lawyers for the diocese are considering yesterday’s ruling.

One of the victims, Graham Baverstock, from Catterick, North Yorkshire, said he was delighted with the news but feared it would not be the end of the matter.

“I think it is about time the church thought about doing the decent and proper thing and sorting the claims for the victims who have suffered abuse,” he said.

“The church should apologise in public and to the victims personally. I have asked for years but so far they have refused to give me an apology.”

Mr Baverstock was 14 when he spent more than a year in the home, where he maintains he was systematically abused.

The 52-year-old, who now lives in Bridlington, East Yorkshire, said he had attempted suicide and selfharmed as a result of what happened to him in 1973 and 1974.

James Carragher, who was headteacher at the home for 20 years, was jailed for 14 years in 2004 for a catalogue of sex crimes against pupils.

The home provided residential care and education for boys with emotional and behavioural problems, mainly from Yorkshire and the North-East.

Solicitor David Greenwood, who is representing 158 of the victims, said he hoped the Middlesbrough Diocese would now work to achieve compensation settlements.

A spokesman for the Middlesbrough Diocese said last night: “The lawyers representing the diocese are considering the matter.”