Man attempts to quash conviction (From Penarth Times)

Man attempts to quash conviction

A PENARTH man serving a prison sentence for abusing boys in his care will this month attempt to overturn his conviction at the Court of Appeal in London.

Tony Burke was jailed for eight-and-a-half years in 2001, after three boys in his care claimed he abused them at an assessment centre in Cardiff more than 30 years ago.

Mr Burke was accused of befriending the boys at Penhill Assessment Centre in Cathedral Road, touching them indecently and committing serious sexual offences against them.

Tony Burke, who is now in his 60s, has always denied the charges which were alleged to have taken place in 1970.

His family and his wife Claire have stood by him, and a national campaign has built up around his and several other cases relating to South Wales Police's Operation Goldfinch.

Mr Burke's solicitor, Liverpool-based David Woods, is a member of a specialist legal team known as the Historical Abuse Appeal Panel.

They look at cases in which carers and teachers have been accused of abusing children decades ago.

The hearing at the Court of Appeal is expected to last three days.

Campaigners from Falsely Accused Carers and Teachers (FACT), who also support former headmaster and Welsh Office social worker Derek Brushett, will be in London when Mr Burke's appeal begins Monday, November 22.

Derek Brushett was sentenced to 12 years in prison in November 1999, after being convicted of physical and sexual abuse against former residents of Bryn-y-Don school.

Supporters of the former head teacher have vowed never to give up their fight to secure his release from prison.

Michael Barnes, secretary of FACT, said: "This year we have experienced an unprecedented level of referrals from teachers and head teachers who have been falsely accused of mistreating children in their care.

"Teachers and others who work with children need to know that they will be supported and better protected when false allegations are made against them."