Northern Ireland's leading public school yesterday came to an out-of-court settlement with the family of a man who was sexually abused there at the age of 10.
The case concerned the abuse of the 10-year-old boarder by a 13-year-old boy in Cabin Hill, the junior school of the prestigious Campbell College in Belfast, where many leading unionist politicians and businessmen have been educated. A number of boys were abused by the 13-year-old, then a dormitory prefect, in 1992, and they complained to the head of the school.
Further information concerning the abuse was brought to the attention of the school authorities by a parent in 1999, but was not responded to.
The family of the 10-year-old boy, who has made a number of suicide attempts, took legal action and the case was to be heard yesterday. However, the school came to an out-of-court settlement with the family, which included damages.
Child protection measures at boarding schools in Northern Ireland are to be reviewed in the light of the scandal, the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children announced yesterday.
The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission welcomed the settlement.
Campbell College said in a statement: "We welcome this opportunity to make it clear that the college has always deeply regretted that the incident happened and also the manner in which it was dealt with at that time."