James O'Brien's Deeply Emotional Response To Child Abuse At His School

10 August 2018, 11:48

James O'Brien was left in tears as he responded to a report detailing the child abuse that took place at his school.

Yesterday's report said that Ampleforth School "prioritised monks and their own reputations over the protection of children" and that "appalling" abuse of pupils took place.

And James got angry as he talked about not only the monks who raped children, but the other staff at the leading Roman Catholic school who did nothing.

In a deeply emotional monologue, James said: "I wasn't abused. And I wasn't aware of anything like the abuse that has now been revealed in this inquiry, I feel such vicious anger at these men.

"Not only did they rape children and then cover it up, the people that never abused children are complicit in this in a way that I'm going to struggle to articulate.

"But every other parent that sent their child to this school has been robbed of pride in their own achievements.

"It makes me want to weep.

A teary, angry James O'Brien discussing abuse at Ampleforth school
A teary, angry James O'Brien discussing abuse at Ampleforth school. Picture: LBC

"I don't know how much of the detail you've seen, but oh my God, these boys, these poor, poor, poor boys. Their victims were as young as seven at Ampleforth.

"And do you know what else has come out? They bloody knew.

"The Abbotts, the headmasters, the housemasters, the teachers who weren't actually raping children, they knew about the monks that were. And they did nothing."

The entire monologue was so, so powerful. You can watch a key moment above or the full monologue below.

Caller James admits to dangerous e-scooter driving whilst backing better safety regulations

Caller James admits to dangerous e-scooter driving whilst backing better safety regulations

James O'Brien caller on water

Caller explains how ‘corporate finance’ has been ‘catastrophic’ for water companies

LBC caller John believes police were 'right' to release Liverpool suspect's ethnicity

LBC caller John believes police were 'right' to release Liverpool suspect's ethnicity

'Mate, I love you'

James' conversation with Barry, who had a chemical castration, takes an unexpectedly wholesome turn

James vs LBC caller: Immigration debate ends more amicably than it starts

James O'Brien vs LBC caller: Immigration debate ends more amicably than it starts

'Necessary and important': British-Israeli caller phones James O'Brien

'Necessary and important': British-Israeli caller phones James O'Brien

James O'Brien's callers praise EU deal

James O'Brien's callers praise EU deal

Brexiteer calls James O’Brien ‘to see how many times he’d be interrupted’

Brexiteer calls James O’Brien ‘to see how many times he’d be interrupted’

LBC caller warns that graduates risk becoming 'economic slaves'

LBC caller warns that graduates risk becoming 'economic slaves'

Fishing Industry Consultant debunks 'complete lies' about water pollution

Fishing industry consultant tells James O'Brien we were 'lied to' about water pollution

James O'Brien callers feel 'targeted' by Labour's immigration rhetoric

James O'Brien's callers feel 'targeted' by Labour's immigration rhetoric

James O'Brien is joined by Sadiq Khan to take your calls

Speak to Sadiq: Mayor of London joins James O'Brien to take your calls

LBC caller blames migration for NHS waiting times

LBC caller blames migration for NHS waiting times

Trade deals, conclave and Reform UK: LBC’s best callers of the week

Trade deals, conclave and Reform UK: LBC’s best callers of the week

'Vance saw Francis... we might be onto something'

LBC caller jokes that JD Vance's visit to the late pope might've paved the way for an American pope

"Things have to get a little bit dirty"

Caller Alexander thinks that "things have to get dirty" to stop Reform