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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Jersey minister sorry for e-mail | Jersey minister sorry for e-mail |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Jersey's health minister has apologised for sending an e-mail in which he criticised the policeman investigating alleged child abuse on the island. | Jersey's health minister has apologised for sending an e-mail in which he criticised the policeman investigating alleged child abuse on the island. |
| Health and social services minister Ben Shenton wrote to his colleagues comparing Jersey's deputy police chief Lenny Harper to comedian Lenny Henry. | Health and social services minister Ben Shenton wrote to his colleagues comparing Jersey's deputy police chief Lenny Harper to comedian Lenny Henry. |
| Mr Harper had said he was considering legal action over the message. | |
| But Mr Shenton said the e-mail, which was leaked to a national newspaper, had been taken out of context. | |
| In the e-mail, Mr Shenton said: "My wife keeps referring to Lenny Harper as Lenny Henry - I don't think she's far wrong." | In the e-mail, Mr Shenton said: "My wife keeps referring to Lenny Harper as Lenny Henry - I don't think she's far wrong." |
| Mr Shenton said: "If it had stayed within the people that it should have stayed within, which was within the cabinet, it shouldn't have undermined the police investigation. | Mr Shenton said: "If it had stayed within the people that it should have stayed within, which was within the cabinet, it shouldn't have undermined the police investigation. |
| "I fully apologise to Lenny Harper if I have insulted him in any way. It wasn't intentional. It was an internal email just asking for some facts, and it was very much a political email. | "I fully apologise to Lenny Harper if I have insulted him in any way. It wasn't intentional. It was an internal email just asking for some facts, and it was very much a political email. |
| "It was not trying to dig into the case in any way." | "It was not trying to dig into the case in any way." |
| Childish and bizarre | Childish and bizarre |
| So far, more than 160 people have come forward to police to claim they were physically and sexually abused at the home over several decades. | So far, more than 160 people have come forward to police to claim they were physically and sexually abused at the home over several decades. |
| A specialist military team has been brought in to assist a forensic search at the home following the discovery of part of a child's skull. | A specialist military team has been brought in to assist a forensic search at the home following the discovery of part of a child's skull. |
| You may well ask why the very man responsible for children's welfare on this island would wish to sabotage the investigation Lenny HarperJersey deputy police chief | You may well ask why the very man responsible for children's welfare on this island would wish to sabotage the investigation Lenny HarperJersey deputy police chief |
| Earlier, Mr Harper said: "I have seen the very personal attack on me by Mr Shenton. My view is that it is rather childish and bizarre." | |
| He added: "It is unhelpful to the victims and the investigation. | He added: "It is unhelpful to the victims and the investigation. |
| "You may well ask why the very man responsible for children's welfare on this island would wish to sabotage the investigation." | "You may well ask why the very man responsible for children's welfare on this island would wish to sabotage the investigation." |
| Establishment concern | Establishment concern |
| Originally from Northern Ireland, Mr Harper served in the Royal Ulster Constabulary (now the Police Service of Northern Ireland), the Metropolitan Police and Strathclyde Police. | Originally from Northern Ireland, Mr Harper served in the Royal Ulster Constabulary (now the Police Service of Northern Ireland), the Metropolitan Police and Strathclyde Police. |
| After six years in Jersey, he is due to retire in August. | After six years in Jersey, he is due to retire in August. |
| He has promised to leave no stone unturned in his investigation and has questioned whether the island's authorities turned a blind eye to systematic abuse on Jersey. | He has promised to leave no stone unturned in his investigation and has questioned whether the island's authorities turned a blind eye to systematic abuse on Jersey. |
| Senior figures in the Jersey establishment are known to be concerned about the effect of negative press attention on the island's tourism industry. | Senior figures in the Jersey establishment are known to be concerned about the effect of negative press attention on the island's tourism industry. |
| As the investigation gathered pace last week, Mr Harper said officers were investigating why so many complaints had not been dealt with in the past. | As the investigation gathered pace last week, Mr Harper said officers were investigating why so many complaints had not been dealt with in the past. |
| Online protest | Online protest |
| He said he had found no evidence of a cover-up, but added: "Part of the inquiry will be the fact that a lot of the victims tried to report their assaults but for some reason or another they were not dealt with as they should be. | He said he had found no evidence of a cover-up, but added: "Part of the inquiry will be the fact that a lot of the victims tried to report their assaults but for some reason or another they were not dealt with as they should be. |
| "We are looking at allegations that a number of agencies didn't deal with things as perhaps they should." | "We are looking at allegations that a number of agencies didn't deal with things as perhaps they should." |
| Five online protest groups are calling for the resignation of Jersey's chief minister, Frank Walker. | Five online protest groups are calling for the resignation of Jersey's chief minister, Frank Walker. |
| More than 1,500 people have joined the groups on a number of social networking sites and they are planning a rally at the weekend, entitled 'Time for Change'. | More than 1,500 people have joined the groups on a number of social networking sites and they are planning a rally at the weekend, entitled 'Time for Change'. |