A LEADING Roman Catholic college has issued a “heartfelt apology” to all the pupils who have suffered sexual abuse there, at the start of a public inquiry into paedophilia in church institutions.

Ampleforth College, whose former pupils include Angel of the North creator Sir Antony Gormley, ex-England rugby captain Lawrence Dallaglio and Downton Abbey creator Lord Fellowes, said it was sorry for “the hurt, injury, distress and damage done to those who were abused as a result of our failings”.

A victims’ lawyer told The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse - which is examining the prevalence of paedophilia in the English Benedictine Congregation and failures in protecting young people - that turning a blind eye to paedophilia should be made a criminal offence so Church institutions are discouraged from hushing up scandals.

Counsel to the inquiry Riel Karmy-Jones said the college near Thirsk was blighted by “failings and omissions, a lack of transparency, misguided loyalty and misjudgments that led in themselves to failings”.

He said although numerous inquiries have exposed the problem of child abuse within church institutions and a string of offenders convicted, lingering safety concerns could remain.

Matthias Kelly, representing Ampleforth, said in his opening statement: “All students, past and present and future, are entitled to expect that they will be safe and cared for by us - I am deeply sorry that this was not always the case. We will strive with every fibre of our beings to alleviate the damage done and to ensure that we do everything we can to ensure there is no repetition.”

Predators convicted include Ampleforth teacher David Lowe, who was jailed for ten years in 2015 for 15 indecent assaults on boys.