Trigger warning: this article includes reference to child sexual abuse.
Dozens of ex-pupils who claim they were sexually abused by a teacher at Formby High School now say they are facing a ‘traumatising’ legal fight after Sefton Council requested ‘expert medical reports’.
A total of 66 people have brought legal action against Sefton Council, claiming it failed to properly investigate allegations against Ian Farquharson who was a teacher at the council-run school – 16 of these claims have already been resolved.
A spokesperson for Sefton Council said: “The council has great sympathy for these claimants and has engaged with each and every one to try and bring a resolution to their claims.”
Responding to recent media report, the local authority statement added: “The suggestion that the council has refused to accept liability because Mr Farquharson is dead is incorrect. However, to take matters forward it does need the claimants to provide more information about their claims and the impact it has had upon them.”
Teacher faced multiple abuse allegations
Farquharson is believed to have been a serial abuser and is accused of sexually assaulting dozens of children in North Wales and Formby between 1975 and May 1992. However, even though Farquharson faced criminal proceeding, he was able to evade justice and was never convicted of a crime.
In 1980, Farquharson was charged with inciting young boys to commit acts of gross indecency. According to reports at the time, he allegedly plied his pupils with lemonade after school hours and encouraged them to commit sex acts while he spied on them through a keyhole. However, he was cleared of that charge at Crosby Magistrates’ Court, after claiming the boys had “tried to get him into trouble” after he had to “discipline” them in the past.
Farquharson was allowed to carry on teaching for another twelve years after the case was dismissed, telling reporters at the time of his acquittal that he was glad his “ordeal” was over. The serial abuser went on to become the head of the lower school at Formby High School, and in 1992 he was subject of a new complaint of sexual abuse by the mother of a child.
That very same day, Farquharson got into his car, drove to an isolated spot near Mold in North Wales, and took his own life. The inquest into Farquharson’s suicide heard he had been summoned to the headteacher’s study and an investigation into his conduct had been launched by education chiefs. Afterwards, he was seen by a neighbour returning to his house in Ashdale Close, Formby looking agitated, before then driving away.
Almost 30 years after his death by suicide, six survivors bravely came forward claiming to have been abused by Farquharson. A year later in 2022, the number of people claiming to be victims of the paedophile teacher had risen to 41 and reached 66 shortly afterwards.
Court hearing into subsequent claims
Andrew Grove and Co solicitors currently act for 50 of those claimants after 16 cases were brought to a resolution. A hearing into the legal case against Sefton Council started last month at Liverpool County Court where the terms of a forthcoming trial were established.
The LDRS understands the court has ordered the claimants to provide this information relating to the impact of their alleged abuse and present this to both the court and the council within the next six months.
According to the claimants’ solicitor, Katherine Jones, Sefton Council are continuing to refuse to admit liability for the sexual abuse of children by Ian Farquharson because there was no conviction in the Criminal Court. For its part, Sefton Council says it needs the claimants to provide more information to move forward.
Ms Jones added: “This is particularly disappointing for the claimants as 16 other claimants have had their claims settled.
“All the evidence suggests that Ian Farquharson was a prolific sexual abuser of young boys and it is time that this fact was recognised and all claimants were dealt with reasonably.
“Before we go to trial Sefton Borough Council is insisting on expert medical reports for each claimant and we will comply with this requirement. However the impact on the claimants cannot be understated. Firstly they have to go through the abuse with a medical expert and then relive it at a trial which will be traumatising for some of them.”
If you have found this article upsetting, you can find advice on how to cope in the aftermath of abuse at Victim Support.
