You will find below a number of articles and press releases about the firm. Also included are links to mention of the firm in local and National Press. To go to our selection of national new stories click here

---

8th May 2002  Macclesfield Express 

Lawyer who led child abuse investigation spearheads new campaign. by Virginia Waters

A Local lawyer who led one of the biggest paedophile ring investigations ever undertaken - at the expense of his personal life - is spearheading a new campaign.

Solicitor Peter Garsden, of Teggs Nose, made a name for himself in the 90s when he launched the. massive compensation campaign into child abuse in north west children's homes.

But the probe took its toll on his ,personal life and he confessed how listening to harrowing tales by victims of sex crimes took over his life ,and resulted in a six-month split from his wife Janet. It also led him to set up the Association of Child Abuse Lawyers to give support to the legal fraternity affected by cases. Nevertheless he is starting a fresh campaign to appeal for survivors of abuse at Irish care centres who are now living in the north west. However now his department of specialised child abuse lawyers have occupational therapists and counsellors on site and all the staff are encouraged to use them.

"I learned a lot from my experience but it is a creature of the past," said Peter.

"And it has helped me to make sure that it doesn't happen to any of my staff."

Speaking of the latest investigation he said: "The north west has extremely strong Irish links and I believe there are many people here who deserve access to justice.

"Over there it was very much a workhouse mentality where starvation and brutal punishment were commonplace, as were abuse and cruelty."

"Children in care homes were made to work for nothing making goods which were then sold for profit.

"A lot of children were in care for quite a long period of time, s over here the abuse was more severe but shorter in duration."

Because he is aware of levels of sexual abuse all over England Peter knows that there was much more of it in Ireland per head than over here. He said: "The problem in Ireland is slightly different because the catholic church and the government performed most of the education and care in partnership. "They were very much in bed with each other."

He said that if you went to school in Ireland up until 1972 you were more likely than not to be taught by a nun or a priest, and education standards were not very high. It was not until 1972 that all the care homes were finally shut down after a damning report by a social investigator

Peter believes that there are many dozens of people now living in Manchester, Liverpool and towns like Macclesfield who survived that abuse but are still severely traumatised.

"They are all over the world," said Peter. "They were sexually abused in care and fled to Canada, Australia and New Zealand to get away from it." The problem with those abused in Ireland is that their average age is between 48 and 92, so the fear is that they will die before they can enjoy any compensation they receive.

So now Peter, of Abney Garsden McDonald Solicitors in Cheadle, is appealing for people who were abused at Irish care centres to come forward to claim the compensation they are entitled to.

He has launched a freephone helpline where victims can receive guidance on the legal remedies available to them.

The number to ring is 0800 783 5969.