Child abuse victims boosted by Lords ruling on claims

A landmark decision by the House of Lords last week could pave the way for up to 15,000 victims of child abuse to introduce claims, a leading child abuse solicitor has said.The ruling on Lister and others v Hesley Hall overturns the previous limitation on the vicarious liability rule, which provided that carers who abused children were acting outside of the scope of their employment.

This means victims can pursue actions against managers of children's homes and other organisations that care for children.Peter Garsden, a partner in Cheshire-based Abney Garsden McDonald - which acted for the claimants in the case - and spokesman for the Association of Child Abuse Lawyers, said victims will find it easier to start proceedings and get funding for cases.

'The claimants deserve better justice than they have been getting,' he added.

Paula Rohan