This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-33201010

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Jehovah's Witnesses to compensate woman over sex abuse Jehovah's Witnesses to compensate woman over sex abuse
(35 minutes later)
A woman who claimed Jehovah's Witness elders failed to protect her from sex abuse carried out by a convicted paedophile has won a six-figure payout.A woman who claimed Jehovah's Witness elders failed to protect her from sex abuse carried out by a convicted paedophile has won a six-figure payout.
The woman, now in her 20s, alleges she was abused as a child in Loughborough by ministerial servant Peter Stewart.The woman, now in her 20s, alleges she was abused as a child in Loughborough by ministerial servant Peter Stewart.
She had argued at London's High Court that he used his role to abuse her.She had argued at London's High Court that he used his role to abuse her.
A judge ruled the organisation was liable for the abuse because it failed to take "safeguarding steps" after Stewart admitted abusing another child.A judge ruled the organisation was liable for the abuse because it failed to take "safeguarding steps" after Stewart admitted abusing another child.
In a published judgement, Mr Justice Globe said he was "satisfied" the organisation should be "held responsible" for the historical abuse. Mr Justice Globe said he was "satisfied" the organisation should be "held responsible" for the abuse, which took place between 1989 and 1994.
It is the first civil case in the UK of historical sexual abuse brought against the Christian-based religious movement.It is the first civil case in the UK of historical sexual abuse brought against the Christian-based religious movement.
The organisation has said it will review the judgment. The organisation - which accepted that Stewart sexually abused the claimant - has said it will review the judgment.
'Couldn't get away''Couldn't get away'
The woman, known only as C in the case, says she was abused by Stewart between the ages of four and nine in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The woman, known only as C in the case, says she was abused by Stewart between the ages of four and nine.
At the time he was a trusted ministerial servant, whose role was to assist elders with religious and administrative duties.At the time he was a trusted ministerial servant, whose role was to assist elders with religious and administrative duties.
Shortly after C's abuse began, Stewart was found to have abused another child in the Jehovah's Witness community.Shortly after C's abuse began, Stewart was found to have abused another child in the Jehovah's Witness community.
He was removed as a ministerial servant in 1990 but because he told elders he had repented, he was allowed to continue with many of the activities he had performed in that role. C alleges he continued to abuse her for another four years. He was removed as a ministerial servant in 1990 but because he told elders he had repented, he was allowed to continue with many of the activities he had performed in that role.
C alleges he continued to abuse her for another four years.
The abuse took place at a number of locations, including Kingdom Hall, a place of worship used by Jehovah's Witnesses, with Stewart forcing her to keep silent by telling her "she was sinning" and "she would not be saved".The abuse took place at a number of locations, including Kingdom Hall, a place of worship used by Jehovah's Witnesses, with Stewart forcing her to keep silent by telling her "she was sinning" and "she would not be saved".
In 1995 Stewart was convicted of separate child sex offences, including rape and indecent assault, and jailed for five years. In 1995, Stewart was convicted of separate child sex offences, including rape and indecent assault, and jailed for five years.
He died aged 72 in 2001, shortly before police arrived at his home to arrest him for sexually abusing C. He died, aged 72, in 2001, shortly before police arrived at his home to arrest him for sexually abusing C.
The court had heard she had "suffered hugely" as a result of the abuse, which had affected her education, career and relationships. The court had heard C had "suffered hugely" as a result of the abuse, which had affected her education, career and relationships.
She had symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and suffered from repeated nightmares. She also attempted suicide.She had symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and suffered from repeated nightmares. She also attempted suicide.
'Pray for you' Speaking to the BBC ahead of the verdict, she said the Jehovah's Witness organisation saw child abuse as a "sin that can be dealt with within their organisation - they don't see that they have to look outside themselves in any way".
Speaking to the BBC ahead of the verdict, the victim said the Jehovah's Witness organisation saw child abuse as a "sin that can be dealt with within their organisation - they don't see that they have to look outside themselves in any way". "All they want to do is pray for you and promise you that God's going to wipe away all your pain. It's just unbelievable," she said.
"All they want to do it pray for you and promise you that God's going to wipe away all your pain. It's just unbelievable," she said. She said the organisation needed to "admit to themselves that there is a massive problem".
She said the organisation - which did not dispute that some abuse took place in her case - needed to "admit to themselves that there is a massive problem".
"These [abuse victims] aren't apostates, these are people who have suffered from horrible, horrible crimes and had their lives completely wrecked," she said."These [abuse victims] aren't apostates, these are people who have suffered from horrible, horrible crimes and had their lives completely wrecked," she said.
"They're not out to destroy the organisation… This is a problem that needs to be dealt with and it needs to be dealt with properly because it is only going to get worse.""They're not out to destroy the organisation… This is a problem that needs to be dealt with and it needs to be dealt with properly because it is only going to get worse."
Analysis
BBC legal affairs correspondent Clive Coleman
This is the first civil case for damages for historical sexual abuse in the UK brought against the Jehovah's Witness organisation, and is thought to be the first brought against any non-mainstream religion.
It illustrates how the law has expanded in recent years so that a person need not be employed by a religious body for it to be vicariously liable - ie responsible - for their actions.
The court firstly asks whether the relationship is "akin to employment".
It doesn't have to be an actual employment relationship (for example, priests are not "employed" but the Church can be liable for their actions), but the relationship has to share features which you might see between employer and employee (for example, where a Church exercises control upon what a priest can and cannot do).
Secondly, the court asks whether the abuse was "connected" to that relationship. For example, if someone uses their position of responsibility as a means to abuse children, then vicarious liability is likely to result.
Kathleen Hallisey, lawyer at AO Advocates, said: "This should be a wake-up call to the Jehovah's Witness organisation that they need to implement better child safeguarding policies that are in line with modern day knowledge about child safeguarding and sexual abuse.Kathleen Hallisey, lawyer at AO Advocates, said: "This should be a wake-up call to the Jehovah's Witness organisation that they need to implement better child safeguarding policies that are in line with modern day knowledge about child safeguarding and sexual abuse.
"And I also hope that it's a wake-up call to members of the organisation that child sexual abuse is a problem within the organisation and it's something that they need to do something about.""And I also hope that it's a wake-up call to members of the organisation that child sexual abuse is a problem within the organisation and it's something that they need to do something about."