A ROMAN Catholic diocese has been given an opportunity to appeal a ruling that it is responsible for an £8m compensation claim by child abuse victims.

Middlesbrough Diocese is facing its last chance to have the landmark claim dismissed by the Supreme Court The Court of Appeal ruled last October that the diocese was responsible for compensating victims of child abuse at St William’s Children’s Home, Market Weighton, East Yorkshire, between 1960 and 1992.

Judges ruled that the De La Salle Brotherhood, a Catholic organisation which provided teachers for the home, had no legal responsibility.

This left the Catholic Child Welfare Society of the Middlesbrough Diocese, which at various times was the “responsible organisation”.

Solicitor David Greenwood, who is representing 158 of the victims, said: “The Supreme Court obviously feels this case is of major importance.

“The Catholic Church has for years tried to escape liability for its priests and members and I hope this case will decide the issues once and for all.

“I am anxious to achieve justice for the victims of abuse at St William’s as quickly as possible and the Supreme Court appeal will cause six to 12 months of delay.

“Despite this, I am undeterred by the appeal.

“I am certain that either the Diocese of Middlesbrough or the De La Salle institute are responsible for compensating victims.”

In 2004, James Redmond Carragher, the former principal of St William’s Children’s Home, was found guilty of a catalogue of serious sex crimes against 22 boys, some as young as 12. He was jailed for 14 years.

He had earlier served a sevenyear sentence imposed in 1993 for indecent assaults, taking photographs of young boys and importing videos of mainly children between 1985 and 1992.

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

Father Derek Turnham, a spokesman for the diocese, which covers an area of 4,000sq km spanning Teesside, North Yorkshire and the East Riding of Yorkshire, said there was little it could say given the ongoing legal action.

He said: “The diocese is pleased that the Supreme Court has given permission to appeal against the ruling from the Court of Appeal.”