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Pyrénées-Atlantiques: a Catholic school targeted by 33 complaints from former students for sexual violence
Pyrénées-Atlantiques: a Catholic school targeted by 33 complaints from former students for sexual violence – (France 2)
33 complaints of violence, sexual assault or rape were filed by former students of the Notre-Dame-de-Bétharram school, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques. A preliminary investigation is underway. The events allegedly took place between the 1980s and 1990s.
How many secrets do the walls of the Notre-Dame-de-Bétharram school contain? The Catholic school located in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, renowned for being prestigious and strict, is the target of 33 complaints. They relate to violence, sexual assault and rape allegedly committed against minors between the 1980s and 1990s. For the first time, Alexandre speaks out after 35 years of silence. In 1987, he was 13 years old when, during an excursion, he was allegedly the victim of a sexual assault committed by a lay supervisor.
A scandal that could go much further
The defendant remained in office for almost 40 years. He has only just been removed from his post on Wednesday February 14, according to the establishment. But the scandal could go much further. Alain Esquerre, another former student, also a victim, collected the majority of the testimonies. For him, a system was at work. “There is collusion between lay people and fathers to abuse children”, says the spokesperson for the alleged victims. A preliminary investigation is underway for suspicion of rape, sexual assault and violence.
