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North Wales care abuse: Jillings report published after 17 years North Wales care abuse: Jillings report published after 17 years
(35 minutes 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. A report written 17 years ago, which has finally been published, identified "extensive" abuse at children's homes in north Wales in the 1970s and 1980s.
Its author John Jillings told the BBC that abuse was widespread and that children "weren't treated like human beings" by some staff. Allegations of abuse at several children's homes, including the former Bryn Estyn home in Wrexham, emerged in the 1990s.
His 1996 report was shelved by the former Clwyd County Council because insurers feared compensation claims. An inquiry by John Jillings was carried in 1996 out but later shelved.
It was published in the wake of fresh investigations into the abuse. But following fresh inquiries into the abuse and an FOI by BBC Wales the report was published.
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. The report said: "Our investigations have led us to conclude that the abuse of children and young people in Clwyd residential units has been extensive, and has taken place over a substantial number of years."
It adds that "some former staff members and staff representing other organisations declined to meet" with the panel. It added: "It is clear that, in a significant number of cases, the lives of young people who have been through the care system in Clwyd have been severely disrupted and disturbed. At least 12 young people are dead."
The report said of "the many statements" taken, "it is unclear how many were forwarded to the Crown Prosecution Service for consideration", and "it is also unclear how many other professionals, including police officers, were named in these statements as perpetrators of assaults".
It continued: "We do not know how many disciplinaries may have resulted.
"We do know of at least three current employees of Clwyd Social Services Department who were interviewed as part of the investigation. To our knowledge none of them was disciplined."
However, the panel concluded they could not hope to address successfully the wider areas of concern, including that public figures had been involved in the abuse.
The report said 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".
It added that "some former staff members and staff representing other organisations declined to meet" with the investigating panel.
It also said there was a "lack of clarity" in relation to accessibility of some social services files, and at one point the report panel considered abandoning the investigation.
Abuse allegations
Separate inquiries have been looking at whether abuse claims were more widespread than previously thought.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
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.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.