Against Satanic Panics > Older cases > Rochdale
The Langley estate / Rochdale Council case (1990)
by Diane Vera
Copyright © 2006 by Diane Vera. All rights reserved.
One morning in May 1990, in the U.K. on the Langley estate near Rochdale in Greater Manchester, police and social workers raided five homes at dawn and took 21 children away from their parents. The parents were suspected of "Satanic ritual abuse." No evidence was found, and the parents weren't charged with any crimes. However, it took an awfully long time for the children to be returned home - up to ten years, in some cases. For many years also, there were gag orders severely restricting press coverage of the case.Here is some general background:
- Snatching of the innocents by David Edwards, Middleton Guardian, U.K., 12th January 2006
- 'Our children have been taken away. Please help us.' by Steve Hammond, Middleton Guardian, U.K., 12th January 2006
- Rochdale, UK, Satanic Ritual Abuse Case on the website of the Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance
And here are recent developments, including more details about the original raids, now that gag orders have been lifted:
- Families may sue over 'Satan abuse' claim by Rebecca Camber and Andrew Nott, Manchester Evening News, UK, Mar. 4, 2004 (another copy here)
- Satanic abuse scandal kids take action, Manchester Evening News, UK, Jan. 7 , 2006 (another copy here and another copy here)
- Satanic panic, The Times (London), U.K., Jan. 9, 2006
- Our stolen childhood, The Times (London), U.K., January 10, 2006
- BBC wins removed children ruling, BBC, U.K., Jan. 11, 2006
- Lost years of 'satanic panic' children, BBC, UK, Jan. 11, 2006 (another copy here, and another copy here)
- When Satan Came To Town - Pagan Anti-Defamation Network's review of the January 2006 BBC documentary
- Satanic abuse: The truth at last, The Guardian, U.K., January 14, 2006
- Satanic abuse: Town in shock by David Edwards, Middleton Guardian, UK, Jan. 19, 2006 (another copy here)
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