inquiry, but he was the ‘starting point’.

IICSA outlines his considerable power within the town - even while still a councillor in the 1960s - and his close involvement with the council’s decisions over where children would be placed in care, more so than would appear to be ‘usual’. Over the course of his political career he was governor of up to 30 different schools in the town.

In particular the inquiry focuses on his activities at the Cambridge House boy’s hostel in Rochdale, set up under by the Rochdale Hostel for Boys Association - of which he was honorary secretary - in 1962.

(Image: PA)

It heard the testimonies of several men who described assaults and molestations carried out under the pretext of medical examinations during the three years it waswhat was allowed to occur’, says the report.

Meanwhile the council’s handling of appalling abuse at the school - a residential institution for vulnerable youngsters with learning and behavioural difficulties - draws scathing criticism from the inquiry.

As well as slamming the then-leader Richard Farnell for having ‘lied’ to it over what he knew , the report also finds two separate directors of social services seriously wanting.

(Image: Joel Goodman)

It is ‘incredulous’ that Ian Davey, acting director of social services in the late 1980s, did not choose to pursue the child protection issues at the school through formal procedures, including pupils being abused at the Smith Street toilets.

“It was his decision alone; it was inexplicable, professionally indefensible and extremely poor judgment on the part of the most senior social work officer