Nestling in the shadow of Alton Towers, Alton Castle seems like the perfect children's playground. The Gothic turrets and towers of the rural retreat for Catholic youngsters resemble a real-life Hogwarts. But Harry Potter and his wizard pals are a far cry from the goings-on at the Staffordshire church-run centre. The Sunday Mercury has discovered that dangerous prisoners - said to include sex offenders, armed robbers and drug dealers - are working unsupervised at the castle. Sources claim parents of the children, who enjoy outdoor activities and spiritual learning, have not been told about the extraordinary link-up between the castle and nearby Sudbury Open Prison. In another twist, it is claimed that Alton Castle director Father John Nolan has been accused of sexual harassment by members of his own female staff. Alton Castle is a charity funded by the Catholic Church as part of the Archdiocese of Birmingham. Its celebrity patrons include Steve Coogan, Des Lynham, Anthea Turner and Lord Stafford. More than 5,000 children, aged nine to 14, from all over the Midlands visit it each year for two or three-day residential activity holidays, costing from £47 a time. But a Sunday Mercury investigation has revealed how prisoners have been working at the castle on day-release from Monday to Friday since the summer. We have also discovered how the inmates: * Have free access to everywhere in the castle and in its grounds; * Are unsupervised and can wander into the nearby village, and * And are issued with security passes which are not always handed back at the end of a day's work.. Castle staff are also kept in the dark about the names of offenders and the offences they have been jailed for. Yet the top churchman in Staffordshire, the Right Reverend Patrick McKinney, has defended the scheme - and the Birmingham Archdiocese has insisted that kids are not at risk. A Sunday Mercury reporter visited the castle on Wednesday and Thursday last week and watched prisoners carrying out maintenance work outside in the grounds. We also saw them entering the building, including one carrying a ladder - accompanied by a couple of children. The convicts were seemingly unsupervised and frequently had time and opportunity to chat to youngsters in the grounds. We saw no senior castle or prison staff present and there was no sign of Fr. Nolan. Parents send their children on school residential breaks at the castle. During their stay, youngsters can take part in nature walks, mountain biking and other outdoor leisure activities. But the discovery of the controversial prisoner day-release scheme has prompted outrage among some within the church. "We couldn't believe it when this scheme started in August," one church source told the Sunday Mercury. "We have nothing against the rehabilitation of prisoners, but is a place full of vulnerable children really the right place? "No-one was told who had sanctioned this scheme and how it was going to work. "Different prisoners turn up at different times and there seems to be absolutely no management or supervision. "But the thing that really shocked staff was when they discovered that these men were not just petty offenders. "One man said he was on the Sex Offenders' Register because he had had sex with a 14 year-old girl. "Another said he was in for 'armed dentistry' - putting a gun into someone's mouth and pulling the trigger. "One prisoner said he was a drug-dealer, while another said he was part of a Manchester gun gang. Staff later saw his photograph in a book about gang culture. It was scary. "Parents have a right to know that their kids are safe when they send them to the castle. But we do not believe they are - with these criminals around. "God forbid anything should go wrong. Several parents who have found out about this scheme have already said that they don't want to send their kids to Alton Castle again. "Other volunteers could surely do these jobs. The prisoners aren't a necessity. I can't understand how the Catholic Church ever let this happen. Children are being put at risk." Unconnected complaints about sexual harassment have also allegedly been made against Fr. Nolan. A source told the Sunday Mercury: "He was appointed as director of Alton Castle in early 2003. "It became clear that his behaviour was inappropriate, not only for someone who was running the castle but also as a Catholic priest. "Complaints were made to the Episcopal Vicar, Patrick McKinney, by three young female members of staff about sexual harassment last year. "But nothing was ever done and they felt as if their concerns had just been swept under the carpet." We contacted the Rt Rev Patrick McKinney, who is on the management committee for Alton Castle, about all the allegations on Friday. He said: "We were informed by the director, Father Nolan, that prisoners were working there. I understand that they were properly supervised." When asked whether he knew that violent prisoners were working at the castle, he said: "No is the answer. I understood they were properly supervised." When told they were unsupervised, he said: "Surely their supervision is the responsibility of the Prison Service?" When asked whether the protection of children was the responsibility of Alton Castle, he said: "I will be speaking to Father Nolan in the light of what you have said." Concerning the allegations made against Fr. Nolan, he added: "Allegations were brought to my attention. The matter was thoroughly investigated and all the relevant parties who needed to be informed, were informed. "These allegations came through a third party and I didn't speak to any of the girls because I was advised that was the best way forward. As for what Father Nolan said, that is a matter between us." When we asked whether Fr. Nolan denied the allegations, the Rt Rev McKinney repeated it was a matter between him and Fr. Nolan - and he was not prepared to comment. Peter Jennings, Press Secretary to the Archdiocese of Birmingham, issued a statement to the Sunday Mercury yesterday morning defending the controversial prisoner scheme. "Alton Castle works in co-operation with the Governor of Sudbury Open Prison and the Probation Service to provide opportunities for work for prisoners who are nearing the end of custodial sentences," he said. "This is one of the ways in which prisoners are enabled to return to society. "Their presence and work is supervised by the maintenance staff of Alton Castle, as is normal for such schemes. "The Governor of the prison and the Probation Service have taken into consideration all the circumstances of Alton Castle, especially its activities with young people, before agreeing to these arrangements. "Their work and behaviour has been more than satisfactory and the Archdiocese is proud to help in this way." He added: "A complaint was made in October 2003 about certain aspects of the behaviour of the Director, Fr John Nolan regarding young adults at the Centre. "These complaints were not concerning matters of child protection. There have never been complaints about minors. These complaints were investigated and dealt with in a thorough manner. "An anonymous letter was received in late November 2003 reiterating the same complaints. The matters were again reviewed and a reporting procedure put in place. "Since that time there has been no further cause for concern. "In conclusion, neither children nor young adults at Alton Castle are at any risk." When asked if parents knew that dangerous prisoners were working at the castle, he would only say: "I am not adding to the statement. I have nothing to add." And a Home Office spokeswoman said: "All prisoners are thoroughly risk-assessed and it is normal for no prison officials to accompany day-release work. "The prisoners who work at Alton Castle do not pose a risk." | 
