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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Jersey 'victims' demand answers | Jersey 'victims' demand answers |
| (3 days later) | |
| Lawyers for alleged victims at the centre of an historic abuse inquiry in Jersey are demanding to know why more people have not been charged. | Lawyers for alleged victims at the centre of an historic abuse inquiry in Jersey are demanding to know why more people have not been charged. |
| They say the lack of charges is "beyond devastating" for their clients. | They say the lack of charges is "beyond devastating" for their clients. |
| Three people have been charged in connection with the inquiry, although more arrests have been made since the last person was charged in May. | Three people have been charged in connection with the inquiry, although more arrests have been made since the last person was charged in May. |
| But lawyer Philip Sinel said "known perpetrators are not being arrested, let alone prosecuted". | But lawyer Philip Sinel said "known perpetrators are not being arrested, let alone prosecuted". |
| There are more than 80 suspects in the inquiry, which is focused on the Haut de la Garenne former children's home. | There are more than 80 suspects in the inquiry, which is focused on the Haut de la Garenne former children's home. |
| 'Ultimate rejection' | 'Ultimate rejection' |
| In a letter to lawyers appointed by the States of Jersey to determine if the police have enough evidence to bring charges in individual cases, Mr Sinel, who represents alleged victims, said: "The effect on my clients on a day to day basis of the failure to prosecute is severe. | In a letter to lawyers appointed by the States of Jersey to determine if the police have enough evidence to bring charges in individual cases, Mr Sinel, who represents alleged victims, said: "The effect on my clients on a day to day basis of the failure to prosecute is severe. |
| "I am sure you will appreciate that my clients were severely damaged as children, accordingly, they are hurt, scared and scarred. | "I am sure you will appreciate that my clients were severely damaged as children, accordingly, they are hurt, scared and scarred. |
| "A failure to prosecute and convict would be the ultimate betrayal of them by the Government, it would be the ultimate rejection of them and of their rights as human beings." | "A failure to prosecute and convict would be the ultimate betrayal of them by the Government, it would be the ultimate rejection of them and of their rights as human beings." |
| There are people on the island who just don't want us going down the route of this inquiry Deputy Chief Officer Lenny Harper | There are people on the island who just don't want us going down the route of this inquiry Deputy Chief Officer Lenny Harper |
| He added that a recent arrest and subsequent release of a suspect had sent a "very strong message" to his clients that the "police are being thwarted by those in charge of the prosecution". | He added that a recent arrest and subsequent release of a suspect had sent a "very strong message" to his clients that the "police are being thwarted by those in charge of the prosecution". |
| Deputy Chief Officer Lenny Harper, who recently retired after leading a two-year-long police inquiry into historic child abuse in Jersey, said that "an old boy network" was obstructing investigations. | Deputy Chief Officer Lenny Harper, who recently retired after leading a two-year-long police inquiry into historic child abuse in Jersey, said that "an old boy network" was obstructing investigations. |
| He told the Daily Telegraph: "I can quite clearly say that the investigation is being held up. | He told the Daily Telegraph: "I can quite clearly say that the investigation is being held up. |
| "There are people on the island who just don't want us going down the route of this inquiry." | "There are people on the island who just don't want us going down the route of this inquiry." |
| This is not the first time concerns have been raised about the way claims of abuse have been handled by the Jersey authorities. | This is not the first time concerns have been raised about the way claims of abuse have been handled by the Jersey authorities. |
| The Jersey government has previously dismissed allegations of its "culture of concealment" and desire to sweep scandal under the carpet. | The Jersey government has previously dismissed allegations of its "culture of concealment" and desire to sweep scandal under the carpet. |
| It has said it will set up an independent inquiry into the way children have been cared for on the island once criminal proceedings have finished. | It has said it will set up an independent inquiry into the way children have been cared for on the island once criminal proceedings have finished. |
| Court appearances | Court appearances |
| About 100 people have alleged abuse dating from the early 1960s to 1986. | About 100 people have alleged abuse dating from the early 1960s to 1986. |
| Jersey Police started an exploratory search of Haut de la Garenne and made their first significant discovery in February, finding what they believed to be a skull fragment. | Jersey Police started an exploratory search of Haut de la Garenne and made their first significant discovery in February, finding what they believed to be a skull fragment. |
| So far police have found 65 milk teeth and more than 100 bone fragments at the former home. | So far police have found 65 milk teeth and more than 100 bone fragments at the former home. |
| But last month, the island's police said a murder inquiry may never take place because an exact date could not be put on the remains, believed to have come from children aged four to 11. | But last month, the island's police said a murder inquiry may never take place because an exact date could not be put on the remains, believed to have come from children aged four to 11. |
| Three men - arrested as part of a separate wider inquiry into child abuse on the island - have appeared in court on Jersey. | |
| On Tuesday, Gordon Claude Wateridge, 77, a former warder at Haut de la Garenne, appeared at the island's magistrates' court charged with 16 counts of indecent assault and one of assault. | On Tuesday, Gordon Claude Wateridge, 77, a former warder at Haut de la Garenne, appeared at the island's magistrates' court charged with 16 counts of indecent assault and one of assault. |
| He was the first person to be charged in connection with Haut de la Garenne and the charges relate to alleged offences against four girls and one boy in the 1970s. | He was the first person to be charged in connection with Haut de la Garenne and the charges relate to alleged offences against four girls and one boy in the 1970s. |
| Claude Donnelly, 68 is charged with raping and sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl on Jersey between 1971 and 1974. | |
| And at the end of May, Michael Aubin, 45, was charged with sexually abusing three boys at Haut de la Garenne between 1977 and 1980. | And at the end of May, Michael Aubin, 45, was charged with sexually abusing three boys at Haut de la Garenne between 1977 and 1980. |