A group of men who claimed they were sexually abused as boys in a Catholic college in Mirfield in the 1960s and 1970s have settled out of court.

The 11 men were training to be priests at the Mirfield Junior Seminary run by the Verona Fathers, an Italian missionary order.

The boys claim they were subjected to a catalogue of abuse by several priests running the boarding school.

Now it has been revealed, all 11 men have accepted payments totalling £120,000. The settlements paid by the order, now known as the Comboni Missionaries, have been made without any admission of liability.

One of the men, 59-year-old Kevin Scullin, said it wasn’t about the money, it was about telling their stories and being listened to.

Kevin, who was born and grew up in Leeds, told how his parents – devout Catholics – sent him to the seminary from the age of 11 after he expressed a wish to become a priest.

Kevin, who attended the school between 1966 and 1971, described himself as “quite a vulnerable kid.”

He added: “When I was about nine or 10 I said I wanted to be a priest but probably two weeks later I said I wanted to play for Leeds United but that was enough for my parents to send me to the seminary.”

Kevin Scullin, who claims he was a victim of sexual abuse by the Verona Fathers at the Mirfield Junior Seminary in the late 1960s
Kevin Scullin, who claims he was a victim of sexual abuse by the Verona Fathers at the Mirfield Junior Seminary in the late 1960s

Kevin kept a diary of his time there. The diary, which he still has, includes a description of how he was sexually abused in the school’s infirmary.

“It was in December 1968 when I went for treatment for a bad foot,” said Kevin. “I was examined and the priest – who I thought had been a qualified nurse – took my pyjama trousers down and examined me and said there was something not quite right.”

Kevin’s diary also revealed another incident of abuse two years earlier, which he had no recollection of.

“I only learned the facts of life in 1968 so in 1966 I didn’t understand what was happening. I was completely innocent and thought I was going for a medical examination.”

Kevin wrote to his mother and told her what had happened. The next thing he was called in by the priest who told him he shouldn’t be telling his mother such things.

Kevin, who has been seeing a psychiatrist since the age of 19, left Yorkshire in his early 20s and now lives in London.

Kevin has accepted a payment of £8,000 but said he would like a full apology.

“They have never said sorry and I am angry they have got away with it,” he said.

“I want a proper apology but that is not how the legal system works.”

Kevin, a council administrator, gave up on the Catholic church many years ago and describes himself as a “Catholic atheist”.

The seminary has long since closed. It was previously based at historic Roe Head in Far Common Road, Mirfield, now Hollybank Special School.

Last year West Yorkshire Police launched an investigation into claims of historic sex abuse.

Det Supt Michael Brown, of the Kirklees Safeguarding Unit, said there was a person police wanted to interview who had left the UK for Italy around the time of the alleged offences. He was unable to travel back to the UK or be extradited due to ill health.

Mr Brown added: “I would like to stress that this investigation is not closed but has reached a point where we can’t go any further.

“We are still hopeful of progress and would be keen to speak to anyone who could provide more information or evidence to help us to progress it further.”

A spokesman for the Comboni Missionaries expressed “great sadness and regret” at the allegations and added: “Given the passage of time of almost half a century we will never know the truth of what happened.”