Co Down woman to receive £250,000 in damages over school caretaker abuse claim
A Co Down woman who claimed she was sexually abused for years by a caretaker at her primary school is to receive £250,000 in damages, the High Court heard today.
The settlement was reached in a lawsuit brought over alleged failures to protect her from the man she says robbed her of both a childhood and a future successful career.
“I have lived in a shell for my whole life,” she stated.
The 47-year-old woman, who is not being identified, sued the Board of Governors at St Mary’s Primary School in Killyleagh, Downpatrick, and also the Education Authority for negligence and breach of safekeeping duties.
She attended the school from the age of four to eleven between the years of 1982 and 1989.
During those years she was sexually abused by the caretaker on a frequent basis, according to her case.
The man, who is now deceased, was said to have been later jailed for molesting another child.
Lawyers representing the woman issued proceedings against the defendants after she suffered years of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression.
They alleged the Education Authority was in breach of its duty as employer, while the school had responsibility for day to day management of the perpetrator.
Counsel for the plaintiff, Patrick Lyttle KC, announced in court that her claim has now been settled for £250,000 plus legal costs.
No admissions of liability were made by either defendant.
Speaking after her case ended, the woman told of being repeatedly abused by the caretaker who played an “integral” role in the running of the school.
“Because I was clever I always finished my work first, so if the teachers needed anything they would send me to him,” she said.
“He became more risk-taking as the years went on, it didn’t matter if he was in a private setting. That was probably part of the appeal to him.”
Despite ostracising herself and struggling to form relationships after the abuse ended, the woman went on to reach a senior management position in her chosen field of work.
But amid bouts of PTSD and panic attacks linked to her childhood trauma, she was eventually forced to quit her job.
“What happened completely robbed me of my childhood, and it also robbed me of my career,” she said.
“It has ruled my whole life, I couldn’t go back to my role because the anxiety was just too debilitating."
Having undergone intensive therapy as part of her recovery, she has urged other victims of abuse to seek help.
“The settlement doesn’t compensate me for the loss of my childhood, but I’m one of the lucky ones to be where I am now,” she said.
The woman’s solicitor, Brian Archer, praised her bravery in taking the case to court.
“My client was the victim of a very evil man who repeatedly abused her throughout her primary school years,” Mr Archer said.
“She managed to deal with that and showed great courage in coming forward.
“This was a complicated case given the historical nature of the allegations, but hopefully she can now start to put all of this behind her.”