I Knew Nowt!, says Councillor Richard Farnell

ROCHDALE Council's new leader, Richard Farnell, has denied being made aware of sexual abuse at a school for vulnerable boys in the town in the 1990s.  Yesterday, health professional Phil Shepherd, who alerted authorities about suspected abuse at Knowl View School in the early 1990s, said he was surprised that his report had not been acted upon earlier.
 

Mr. Richard Farnell, who was also leader at the time, has said it 'was not brought to the attention of elected officials'.

Two separate council and police investigations into the allegations of child abuse at Knowl View are continuing.

Mr Farnell, who led the council in the late 1980s and early 1990s, was reinstated as leader of Rochdale Council at a Labour group meeting on Monday evening.