Fr Ernest Sands Commits Suicide Following Police Interview

Fr Ernest Sands, a renowned musician in the Catholic Church, was found dead on 11 April following being interviewed by police relating to alleged sexual abuse at St Joseph’s Catholic College, Upholland, Lancashire.

Several individuals came forward to the police and provided testimony relating to abuse they suffered at the hands of Sands whilst attending the college, also known as Upholland College, and at other institutions.

Upholland College was then a seminary containing a junior seminary for boys aged 11 to 18 years of age as well as a senior seminary for those mostly aged between 18 and 24 years of age.

Sands lived at the College and would write music which would then be sang by the seminary choir.

However, the seminary was not the only place that Sands abused boys according to Skelmersdale Police. Sands was interviewed by the police and was due to answer bail on 11 April but was found dead by the police.

We represent and have represented individuals who attended Upholland and were abused by not only Sands but other priests who resided and taught at the seminary.