The horrific revelations surrounding paedophile headteacher Neil Foden, who is believed to have abused pupils for over 40 years, have shaken the foundations of Gwynedd. As the scale of the abuse continues to emerge—reportedly with four times as many victims as initially thought—questions are now being asked about the council’s role in allowing this predator to continue unchecked.
In the wake of a BBC investigation, the leader of Cyngor Gwynedd, Dyfrig Siencyn, has finally issued an apology to those who suffered at Foden’s hands. He has also backed calls for a Public Inquiry, a move long overdue for the families and victims left devastated by decades of abuse. Siencyn’s apology comes too late for many, especially after his initial refusal to apologise led to the resignation of four councillors. Becca Brown, Berwyn Parry Jones, Dafydd Meurig, and Elin Walker Jones publicly distanced themselves from Siencyn’s earlier comments, saying in a joint statement that they “wish to distance ourselves from the comments made by leader Dyfrig Siencyn.”
Solicitor Kathryn Yates, representing a dozen victims of Foden’s abuse, has warned that the council could face “a bill for millions” in compensation and legal costs. “There is a mixture of serious sexual abuse, physical abuse, and emotional abuse,” Yates said, detailing the long-lasting trauma inflicted on the victims, many of whom have carried the scars into adulthood. “The first client is now in her 50s, my youngest is 14… the council are vicariously liable for the actions of their employees.”
This belated apology from Siencyn cannot undo the damage that has been done, nor can it erase the years of neglect that allowed Foden to remain in his position. For 40 years, this man abused children while those in power looked the other way. The council’s failure to intervene or act sooner is a damning indictment of the institution’s priorities.
Even now, the apology feels hollow. Why did it take public outcry and the resignations of four councillors for Siencyn to acknowledge the victims? His initial refusal to apologise speaks to the heart of the problem—an institution more concerned with its own reputation than the well-being of those it was supposed to protect.
Yates, whose legal action against the council could see compensation claims reaching millions, has highlighted the council’s clear responsibility in this tragedy. The legacy of Foden’s crimes will haunt the victims for the rest of their lives, and no amount of money can repair the damage done. Yet the fact remains: the council is vicariously liable for allowing this predator to operate unchecked for decades.
The people of Gwynedd deserve answers, justice, and a complete overhaul of the systems that failed them so tragically. While a Public Inquiry is a step in the right direction, the full truth must be exposed, and those responsible must be held to account. For too long, Gwynedd Council has failed its people. Now, with the shocking scale of Foden’s crimes laid bare, the council’s legacy of betrayal is undeniable.
Until transparency, accountability, and justice are delivered, this scandal will remain a dark stain on Gwynedd—one that no amount of apologies or inquiries can easily wash away. The community deserves better. It’s time for the council to deliver more than empty words. It’s time for real change.
