This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-23199905
The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| North Wales care abuse: Jillings report published after 17 years | North Wales care abuse: Jillings report published after 17 years |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A report written 17 years ago into claims of abuse at children's homes in north Wales in the 1970s and 1980s has been published. | |
| Its author John Jillings told the BBC that abuse was widespread and that children "weren't treated like human beings" by some staff. | Its author John Jillings told the BBC that abuse was widespread and that children "weren't treated like human beings" by some staff. |
| His 1996 report was shelved by the former Clwyd County Council because insurers feared compensation claims. | |
| It was published in the wake of fresh investigations into the abuse. | |
| It begins by saying its investigations were limited by a number of "constraining factors", including that it was "unclear to what extent material held by North Wales Police might be available" to the report's panel. | |
| It adds that "some former staff members and staff representing other organisations declined to meet" with the panel. | |
| Separate inquiries have been looking at whether abuse claims were more widespread than previously thought. | |
| Allegations of abuse at several children's homes, including the former Bryn Estyn home in Wrexham, emerged in the 1990s. | Allegations of abuse at several children's homes, including the former Bryn Estyn home in Wrexham, emerged in the 1990s. |
| North Wales Police investigated the claims in 1991 and seven former care workers were convicted. | North Wales Police investigated the claims in 1991 and seven former care workers were convicted. |
| But as more claims of widespread abuse in almost 40 homes emerged, the former Clwyd County Council commissioned Mr Jillings in March 1994 to investigate. | But as more claims of widespread abuse in almost 40 homes emerged, the former Clwyd County Council commissioned Mr Jillings in March 1994 to investigate. |
| Suicide | Suicide |
| Mr Jillings, a former director of social services for Derbyshire, said the council was worried about costly insurance claims and his report never saw the light of day. | Mr Jillings, a former director of social services for Derbyshire, said the council was worried about costly insurance claims and his report never saw the light of day. |
| A redacted [edited] version of the 300-page report was finally made public and published online on Monday following a Freedom of Information (FoI) request by the BBC. | |
| Interviewed shortly before its publication Mr Jillings told the BBC that abuse was widespread within a group of homes where children were isolated. | Interviewed shortly before its publication Mr Jillings told the BBC that abuse was widespread within a group of homes where children were isolated. |
| He said: "They didn't have regular supervisory visits from headquarters staff, as I understand it. Or if they did, they weren't very searching. | He said: "They didn't have regular supervisory visits from headquarters staff, as I understand it. Or if they did, they weren't very searching. |
| "So the staff for 99% of their time were on their own with the children, could treat them as they wished. | "So the staff for 99% of their time were on their own with the children, could treat them as they wished. |
| "They regarded them as children who were out of control and they thought the way of dealing with that is by severely treating them. | "They regarded them as children who were out of control and they thought the way of dealing with that is by severely treating them. |
| "The treatment of children was bestial really; they weren't treated like human beings, by some members of staff at any rate. | "The treatment of children was bestial really; they weren't treated like human beings, by some members of staff at any rate. |
| "I mean some children died, 10 children died. Some of them committed suicide." | "I mean some children died, 10 children died. Some of them committed suicide." |
| The Jillings inquiry was followed by another investigation by the late Sir Ronald Waterhouse, which took four years to complete. | The Jillings inquiry was followed by another investigation by the late Sir Ronald Waterhouse, which took four years to complete. |
| Sir Ronald found there had been "appalling mistreatment" of children over a period of 20 years. | Sir Ronald found there had been "appalling mistreatment" of children over a period of 20 years. |
| He had gathered evidence from 650 people, with most allegations focusing on seven homes. | He had gathered evidence from 650 people, with most allegations focusing on seven homes. |
| Last year the scandal re-emerged after a victim claimed the Waterhouse report in 2000 had not uncovered the full scale of the abuse. | Last year the scandal re-emerged after a victim claimed the Waterhouse report in 2000 had not uncovered the full scale of the abuse. |
| Home Secretary Theresa May then launched a new police inquiry into the abuse allegations. | Home Secretary Theresa May then launched a new police inquiry into the abuse allegations. |
| And Clwyd council's successor authorities such as Flintshire County Council and Wrexham County Borough Council began searching their archives for a copy of that report. | And Clwyd council's successor authorities such as Flintshire County Council and Wrexham County Borough Council began searching their archives for a copy of that report. |
| The successor authorities are also due to publish a statement and outline the reasons for the redactions that have been made. | The successor authorities are also due to publish a statement and outline the reasons for the redactions that have been made. |