Brookside School Abuse Survivors Hope Others Will Speak Out

Making a Claim for Compensation

Although headteacher Jack Mount himself was never convicted during his lifetime, some of those who spoke out have since managed to get some justice. Gail Marshall, who joined Brookside School in 1975, was awarded £10,000 by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) in 2016.

While no amount of money can take away the pain and suffering, she would have experienced, it was a valuable recognition that what happened to her was wrong.

Gail said, “When I look at the bigger picture now, I look at my life and I think it wasn’t my fault – I was just a kid”.

Another victim, Philip Fowler, said that he can remember the ordeal that happened to him “like it was yesterday”. He talks to the BBC saying it was in the coach house of the school, where Philip had sadly raped him. Unfortunately, this horrific act of abuse of power was just a small snippet of what Philip had been accused of.

Our Abuse Solicitors have many years of experience helping survivors of child abuse in schools claim compensation through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority, so they can access the care and support they need, and get the sense of justice and closure they need.

Liam Goggin, a Senior Associate Solicitor commented, “The psychological damage suffered by abuse victims can be profound, particularly if they were abused by someone in a position of power and trust.

“Jack Mount managed to avoid punishment for many years, so we are pleased to see the brave people who have spoken out now starting to get the justice they have deserved for such a long time. Many victims of abuse went through failed criminal prosecutions against Mount, but continued to speak out and make their voices heard, which is a credit to them all and should be admired.”

“We hope others who were abused by Jack Mount during their time at Brookside School now seek legal advice about their rights. I would be happy to speak to any victims about their legal rights and to consider a civil claim for compensation.”

Mount’s daughter Tricia, who had herself been abused by her father as a child, at first didn’t believe the allegations against him, as they concerned boys. But her suspicions were raised when the school began to accept girls, and it was another 30 years before she spoke out about her own experience of abuse and reported her father to the police.

We understand there are many compelling reasons for staying silent for many years. But the law looks sympathetically at people who report abuse years or even decades after the event, and it can still be possible to get the justice you deserve.

Marina Musker, another former pupil at the school who reported abuse, hopes that by telling her story, other victims of Mount will do the same.

“I want to tell them I understand and I know how difficult their lives will have been… (that) they are so brave,” she said.

Can I Remain Anonymous When I Report Abuse?

Many people put off reporting their abuse to the police because they don’t want others to find out about what they’ve been through.

If you’re a victim of a sexual crime, you’ll be granted anonymity. This means that if the matter goes to Trial, you won’t be named in the Court documents or any media reports. However, if you feel it will help to raise awareness or encourage others to come forward, you do have the right to waive your anonymity.

If you feel that reporting any kind of abuse will make you unsafe, you may also be able to request anonymity or have reporting restrictions put in place.

How Simpson Millar Can Help With Historical Abuse

We know that reporting any kind of abuse to the police can be extremely difficult. Many people understandably feel daunted by the process and what it will involve. It is likely that the police might ask for details that are difficult to revisit, and this can deter survivors of abuse from coming forward. This shouldn’t deter you, as historical cases prove that many survivors of abuse feel that pursuing a criminal conviction allows them to have a sense of closure, as they’ve finally been able to disclose their experiences and see justice carried out.

Between June 2022 and June 2023, there were 885,393 domestic abuse related claims that were recorded by the police in England and Wales – proving that you certainly are not alone when it comes to something as awful as this. 

If you have any questions or want free expert legal advice, contact us our expert abuse claims team on 0808 239 1287. We can provide advice on the steps that can and should now be taken. When you’re ready to talk, we’re ready to listen.