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| Rally in Jersey over abuse claims | Rally in Jersey over abuse claims |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A rally has taken place in Jersey to highlight concerns at the way authorities have handled claims of abuse at a former children's home. | A rally has taken place in Jersey to highlight concerns at the way authorities have handled claims of abuse at a former children's home. |
| Police say 100 people claim to have been abused at Haut de la Garenne, where a child's remains were found. | Police say 100 people claim to have been abused at Haut de la Garenne, where a child's remains were found. |
| Organiser Nick le Cornu said the rally was being held to break the "culture of silence" and to urge political change. | |
| Meanwhile, police are expected to break through to a second underground chamber at the former home this weekend. | Meanwhile, police are expected to break through to a second underground chamber at the former home this weekend. |
| The rally, which was also billed as a vigil for the alleged victims, was organised by a group calling itself Time for Change. | |
| It comes after revelations about historic child abuse at Haut de la Garenne and other care institutions in Jersey. | It comes after revelations about historic child abuse at Haut de la Garenne and other care institutions in Jersey. |
| 'Political class' | 'Political class' |
| There have also been allegations of a "cover-up" by the local authorities but police say there is no evidence to support them. | There have also been allegations of a "cover-up" by the local authorities but police say there is no evidence to support them. |
| Mr le Cornu called for judges from the UK to conduct an independent inquiry into the handling of the abuse claims. | Mr le Cornu called for judges from the UK to conduct an independent inquiry into the handling of the abuse claims. |
| The culture of silence prevents people from actually speaking and telling the truth Nick le Cornu,Rally organiser Island's 'culture of secrecy' | The culture of silence prevents people from actually speaking and telling the truth Nick le Cornu,Rally organiser Island's 'culture of secrecy' |
| He told the BBC: "This crisis indicts the whole political class on this island. | He told the BBC: "This crisis indicts the whole political class on this island. |
| "The culture of silence prevents people from actually speaking and telling the truth, and saying how they feel about their government and the kind of government we should have." | "The culture of silence prevents people from actually speaking and telling the truth, and saying how they feel about their government and the kind of government we should have." |
| About 200 people gathered outside the States of Jersey building in the capital St Helier. | About 200 people gathered outside the States of Jersey building in the capital St Helier. |
| Participants, carrying daffodils to symbolise hope for the future, held a minute's silence for the alleged victims. | Participants, carrying daffodils to symbolise hope for the future, held a minute's silence for the alleged victims. |
| 'Vulnerable ones' | |
| Giffard Oubin, now 73, told the crowd how he was beaten and bullied by the older boys at the home during the 1940s. | |
| He told BBC News the older boys were supposed to be looking after them in return for free board and lodging, and he was "one of the vulnerable ones they picked on". | |
| "They used to wrap wires round our legs and attach them to a generator and give us electric shocks," he said. | |
| "We were given numbers instead of names and if we got ill we were sent to the boot room and beaten." | |
| He said the punishments were "for nothing at all" and "it was just to give them kicks". | |
| About 200 people gathered at the main square in St Helier | About 200 people gathered at the main square in St Helier |
| Roy le Hérissier, a States of Jersey deputy, said of the rally: "I don't think it will change things immediately, but I think it will have an impact. | Roy le Hérissier, a States of Jersey deputy, said of the rally: "I don't think it will change things immediately, but I think it will have an impact. |
| "Because I think what it shows is that the ordinary people of Jersey are pretty angry about what has gone on." | "Because I think what it shows is that the ordinary people of Jersey are pretty angry about what has gone on." |
| Meanwhile, the police search at Haut de la Garenne has entered its third week. | Meanwhile, the police search at Haut de la Garenne has entered its third week. |
| Officers have finished clearing rubble from the first cellar. | Officers have finished clearing rubble from the first cellar. |
| Sniffer dogs detected two spots of what is said to be human blood and police hope to extract a DNA profile. | Sniffer dogs detected two spots of what is said to be human blood and police hope to extract a DNA profile. |
| The samples found by the dogs in a concrete bath were analysed locally but will be sent to the UK for further tests. | The samples found by the dogs in a concrete bath were analysed locally but will be sent to the UK for further tests. |
| Child's skull | Child's skull |
| Officers stressed there could be an innocent explanation for the drops, which were too small to be seen with the naked eye. | Officers stressed there could be an innocent explanation for the drops, which were too small to be seen with the naked eye. |
| But BBC correspondent Robert Hall said police at this stage considered the discovery to be significant because it tallied with witness descriptions of violence and assaults in underground parts of the home. | But BBC correspondent Robert Hall said police at this stage considered the discovery to be significant because it tallied with witness descriptions of violence and assaults in underground parts of the home. |
| The police search of the home has entered its third week | The police search of the home has entered its third week |
| The police investigation, which began covertly in 2006, led to the discovery of part of a child's skull last month in a stairwell at the back of the building. | The police investigation, which began covertly in 2006, led to the discovery of part of a child's skull last month in a stairwell at the back of the building. |
| The remains are thought to date from the early 1980s. Police have not said whether they are male or female. | The remains are thought to date from the early 1980s. Police have not said whether they are male or female. |
| Some 25 people are suspected of having taken part in sexual and physical assaults at the home dating back to the 1960s. | Some 25 people are suspected of having taken part in sexual and physical assaults at the home dating back to the 1960s. |
| Investigators say there are more than 40 suspects in the inquiry overall and 262 more phone calls relating to allegations of abuse are still being processed. | Investigators say there are more than 40 suspects in the inquiry overall and 262 more phone calls relating to allegations of abuse are still being processed. |
| Jersey's deputy police chief, Lenny Harper, said the search of the home was expected to continue at the same "slow, methodical" pace. | Jersey's deputy police chief, Lenny Harper, said the search of the home was expected to continue at the same "slow, methodical" pace. |
| The children's home closed in 1986 and was later converted into a youth hostel. | The children's home closed in 1986 and was later converted into a youth hostel. |
| Last month, former health and social security minister Stuart Syvret attacked Jersey's "conservative, closed society". | Last month, former health and social security minister Stuart Syvret attacked Jersey's "conservative, closed society". |
| "Local oligarchs are the business elite. They work together, play golf together and go to the same parties," he said. | "Local oligarchs are the business elite. They work together, play golf together and go to the same parties," he said. |
| "What that means, is that when a scandal happens their first reaction is stamp on controversy." | "What that means, is that when a scandal happens their first reaction is stamp on controversy." |
| Are you in Jersey? Were you at the rally? Send us your comments by filling out the form below. | Are you in Jersey? Were you at the rally? Send us your comments by filling out the form below. |