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St Francis Boys' Home abuse inquiry: Police review evidence St Francis Boys' Home sex abuse inquiry: Police review evidence
(35 minutes later)
Ex-residents of a Catholic orphanage in Bedfordshire are to be re-interviewed by police in a new review into claims of physical and sexual abuse.Ex-residents of a Catholic orphanage in Bedfordshire are to be re-interviewed by police in a new review into claims of physical and sexual abuse.
In May 2013 police revealed an investigation had begun into alleged abuse at the St Francis Boys Home in Shefford in the 1950s and 1960s. In May 2013 police revealed an investigation had begun into alleged abuse at the St Francis Boys Home in Shefford, in the 1950s and 1960s.
Ex-residents have been told there will be an evidence review under the command of senior investigator Mark Ross.Ex-residents have been told there will be an evidence review under the command of senior investigator Mark Ross.
Bedfordshire Police said all previous investigations would be looked at.Bedfordshire Police said all previous investigations would be looked at.
The case was closed in November but reopened in December. A man arrested soon after one man was arrested has had his bail cancelled.
Mr Ross will command a new team looking into the case.
The BBC has talked to former residents of the home who allege they were physically and/or sexually abused at the orphanage, run by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Northampton.The BBC has talked to former residents of the home who allege they were physically and/or sexually abused at the orphanage, run by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Northampton.
'Out of the blue''Out of the blue'
Many have said they were abused by priest Father John Ryan, who ran the home in the 1960s and died in 2008.Many have said they were abused by priest Father John Ryan, who ran the home in the 1960s and died in 2008.
Others say they were abused by Fr Wilfred Johnson, who ran the home between 1945 and 1954 and died in 1994.Others say they were abused by Fr Wilfred Johnson, who ran the home between 1945 and 1954 and died in 1994.
Gordon McIntosh, a spokesman for ex-residents who says he was physically abused at the home, said he had been spoken to by police who said they wanted to re-interview him. Mr Ross, a retired senior police officer, said: "The investigation has evolved due to the large number of victims and witnesses.
Mr McIntosh said a Bedfordshire officer had told him a new team would be reviewing the previous investigations into the case, and it was to be formally announced next week. "We are now in a very different era and social attitudes and the criminal justice system have changed significantly in the last 50 years. I aim to provide all of the victims involved with an outcome.
He said he knew other ex-residents had also been contacted by police to arrange fresh interviews. "Many of the suspects have since died but police forces still have the responsibility to investigate these crimes and consider organisational responsibility at the time of the abuse."
Gordon McIntosh, a spokesman for ex-residents, welcomed the news.
"It's a very positive development and it has come out of the blue. I am hoping at the end of the day we can see some progress in this investigation," Mr McIntosh told the BBC."It's a very positive development and it has come out of the blue. I am hoping at the end of the day we can see some progress in this investigation," Mr McIntosh told the BBC.
The Diocese of Northampton has said it "deeply regrets" any hurt caused, but has stressed the "claims are not proven".The Diocese of Northampton has said it "deeply regrets" any hurt caused, but has stressed the "claims are not proven".