An independent report by Keith Makin has revealed the abuse of over 100 young men and children by a member of the Church of England, John Smyth QC.
An investigation was initially commenced in 1982 by Iwerne Trust, however this was not publicly accessible under 2016. An investigation by Channell 4 News in February 2024 has uncovered the reports of physical abuse of boys by Smyth.
It was found that Smyth would search for young boys who attended leading public schools, including Winchester College, and would subsequently return with them to his home, where he would abuse them in his back garden shed. It was stated that 8 of the boys received a total of 14,000 lashings.
After the abuse was uncovered, Smyth was encouraged to leave the country and migrated to Zimbabwe. His prevalence of abuse continued. During his time there, he was charged with the manslaughter of a 16-year-old boy who attended one of his summer camps. This charge, however, did not result in conviction.
In 2018, Smyth died at the age of 77 in Cape Town and thus was “never brought to justice for the abuse”.
Makin found in his report that the abuse was covered up by the Church of England, which played a major role in allowing Smyth to continue his ‘evil acts’. Reports of abuse were made several times throughout 1970 and 2017, with the most recent incident not being investigated due to lack of evidence.
In Makin’s review, he states that there is “clear evidence that the abuse perpetrated by John Smyth in the UK was “covered up”, minimised and held as ‘secret’ from at least 1982 (and possibly earlier), and that this cover-up applied until later in the review period.”
The inaction of the Church and the Local Authorities to protect children and young men from the abuse has resulted in victims experiencing physical, emotional and psychological harm.
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