Michael James Callaghan

A former monk from Ampleforth College has been sentenced to seven years in prison for sexually abusing two boys while working at the prestigious Roman Catholic boarding school in North Yorkshire.

The offences, which involved historical child abuse, came to light as part of ongoing investigations into safeguarding failures at the institution. Michael James Callaghan, who served as a monk at the college, exploited his position of trust to carry out the sexual assaults on the young victims. The case was heard at a local crown court, where the severity of the abuse and the vulnerability of the children were highlighted by the prosecution.

• The abuse occurred during Callaghan's time at Ampleforth College, a well-known independent school with a history of abuse scandals.
• Following a thorough police investigation by North Yorkshire Police, Callaghan was convicted on charges related to child sexual abuse.

During the sentencing on 19 June 2025, the judge emphasised the long-lasting impact on the victims, stating, 'The betrayal of trust in such an educational environment is profound and unforgivable.' North Yorkshire Police confirmed the conviction in their court results update, underscoring their commitment to pursuing historical abuse cases. Callaghan will serve his custodial sentence, with no possibility of early release mentioned in the proceedings.