Barnardo's in £400m lawsuit over children sent to be farm 'servants'

Barnardo's was accused yesterday in a £400m lawsuit of shipping destitute children from Britain to become farm "servants".

A class action launched at Ontario's Superior Court of Justice alleges the children's charity sent youngsters to Canada even though some still had parents living in Britain.

Many of those who were sent, between 1870 and 1939, were subsequently abused, in what was described as "a little-known disgraceful chapter in Canadian history".

The action was launched on behalf of 86-year-old Harold Vennell, from Ontario, who was shipped to Canada at the age of 14. He had been a Barnardo's boy since 1923, when he became ill with rickets and his single mother could not look after him. Mr Vennell claims he ended up on an Ontario farm working 18 hours a day, seven days a week, was given meagre food and was abused by the farmer and his wife.

His lawyers have set up a website detailing his claim and inviting other Barnardo's children with similar allegations to add their names to the action, which could cost the charity an estimated £400m. Harvey Strosberg QC, for Mr Vennell, said Barnardo's shipped 30,000 children to Canada during the time of its migration programme.

He said: "While Barnardo's intentions may have seemed laudable to some, it is now indisputable that many of the migrant children were neglected, abused or otherwise mistreated – and such mistreatment must have been known to Barnardo's representatives."

Mr Strosberg estimated there are between 3,000 and 5,000 of the migrant children still alive who might want to join the action. Relatives of any who died within the past two years can also join, under Canadian law.