“There is substantial evidence Michell was a dangerous paedophile and the placement of James with him was of high risk.”

Survivors’ spokesman Raymond Stevenson said: “We are the custodians of information that has revealed some of the most heinous crimes on care children and the story of James McCourt is both typical and unique.

“Through investigating his life in care we learned each time he screamed for help there was no one there to turn to.

“That eventually led to him taking his life.

“There are people out there that know they failed him and we refuse to let his voice be silenced by lies.”

James’s father disappeared when he was a baby and he was moved 42 times between 16 different institutions and carers ­between the ages of two and 13.

He absconded 24 times in four months in 1983, back to his mother’s house in Liverpool as well as to Birmingham and London. Court papers reveal he was ­targeted by a third notorious paedophile during this period.

Teacher Michell met James at Lancaster House home near Reading, Berks, in 1979 and took special ­interest in the 10-year-old, social services papers reveal.

Michell died aged 70 in 2000. James killed ­himself in Highpoint ­prison in Suffolk where he was serving time for affray.

A prison report shortly before he died said he was going to give evidence against the paedophiles. But it added: “Does not want to attend, does not want to carry on.”

Abuse in Lambeth was covered up for years and will be among a string of scandals considered by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse led by Professor Alexis Jay, a former social worker.

The Hillsborough-style probe was set up following the scandal of decades of abuse by BBC presenter Jimmy Savile.

A Lambeth council spokesman ­admitted: “Terrible abuse occurred at Lambeth children’s homes prior to their closure in the 1980s and 1990s.

“The current leader has made a full and genuine apology.

“Because of the harm many children suffered we have developed a redress scheme for survivors and secured ­£100million for compensation those who were so very badly let down by the system. The redress scheme has been extended to include children who were placed with foster parents directly from a Lambeth children’s home.

“James McCourt’s family would be able to apply for compensation under the Lambeth Children’s Homes Redress Scheme.”

Foster boy killed himself after ‘council officials put him in the care of paedophiles’

[Mirror 12/16/17 by Tom Pettifor]

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