- Care Leavers Association chairman disappointed by Sir Phillip Bailhache’s comments during States debate.
- States this week agreed to give the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry an additional £14 million.
- See the full background to the timeline below.
- Were the States right to grant an extra £14 million? Take part in our poll below.
EXTERNAL Relations Minister Sir Philip Bailhache should have removed himself from a debate into increasing funding for the historical abuse inquiry, the Jersey Care Leavers Association says.
On Wednesday, the States agreed to increase the budget for the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry by £14 million, passing a proposition brought by Chief Minister Ian Gorst by 35 votes to six.
Four of the six who voted against the proposition were ministers.
Senator Bailhache, who held a number of senior legal positions, including Bailiff and Attorney General, during some of the time the alleged abuse occurred, abstained from the vote.
Ireland – (Approx £100 million)
The Government of Ireland initiated an inquiry into institutional child abuse in 1999. The Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (CICA) took 10 years to complete its task – which involved speaking to more than 1,500 witnesses.
Australia – (£260 million)
The Royal Commission in Australia began investigating institutional child sex abuse two years ago and is not due to finish until 2017. The inquiry has a budget of $500 billion Australian dollars and a team of 270 staff.
Cleveland, UK (£4 million)
However, after telling the House that he would abstain because of a potential conflict of interest, he gave a lengthy speech arguing against the additional funding.
Carrie Modral, chairwoman of the Jersey Care Leavers Association, said that she was disappointed by Sir Philip’s speech and argued that he should not have taken part in the debate.
She said: ‘I was less than impressed with his speech – it was awful.
‘He should have removed himself from the debate because he does have a vested interest in the outcome of the inquiry. He should not have tried to influence the debate in the way that he did.’
Of the six to vote against the proposition, four came from the Council of Ministers, after Senator Gorst waived the issue of collective responsibility for what he described as ‘an important debate’.
Ms Modral added: ‘I was slightly fearful that the proposition may have been rejected, but this is brilliant news.
‘Those who have been in care would have been dumbfounded if the inquiry had ground to a halt.
‘I hope there is no further political influence. It has been said that this is not a set amount and that the inquiry can ask for more if it is needed.’
During the debate, many Members argued that the inquiry must be allowed to continue, no matter what the costs were.
However, concerns were also raised about what granting such a substantial increase in funding could do to the Island’s finances.
The inquiry, which is about to enter the next phase of its investigation by questioning alleged child abusers and care home workers, was initially granted a budget of £6 million but yesterday’s decision takes the overall amount granted by the States past £20 million.
The six Members who voted against the proposals were Transport Minister Eddie Noel, Environment Minister Steve Luce, Social Security Minister Susie Pinel, Education Minister Rod Bryans, St Brelade Deputy Graham Truscott and St Peter Constable John Refault.
Earlier in the sitting, Deputy Montfort Tadier lost an amendment not to cap the costs of the inquiry by 34 votes to nine.
2007
TOWARDS the end of the year the then deputy police chief, Lenny Harper, announced that the States police were investigating alleged historical child abuse at former States children’s homes.
An appeal for information was also launched and the investigation was overseen by police chief Graham Power.
2008
ARRESTS relating to the abuse investigation began to be made at the end of January.
A few months later Mr Harper, the senior investigating officer, revealed that his team was excavating the former children’s home at Haut de la Garenne and that they had found what appeared to be a fragment of bone.
The announcement led to a swathe of lurid headlines in national newspapers, which carried stories of child torture and possible murder. In August Mr Harper retired and was replaced by David Warcup, a former deputy chief constable of Northumbria police.
Towards the end of the year Mr Warcup and the investigation’s new senior officer, Detective Superintendent Mick Gradwell, said that after a review of the evidence gathered, no child murders took place at Haut de la Garenne.
They also concluded that no bodies had been hidden or burned.
At the same time police chief Graham Power was suspended for his alleged poor handling of the abuse inquiry, but a report later found that he had been removed without proper evidence of incompetence.
2009
IN May the fragment of material said to potentially have been part of a child’s skull was sent to botanists at Kew Gardens at the request of Det Supt Gradwell.
The report that followed confirmed that it was, in fact, a piece of coconut.
Also, Islanders arrested and convicted of abuse offences as part of the investigation began to be sentenced in 2009 as well.
2010
THE Wiltshire Constabulary’s report – an independent review of the handling of the Haut de la Garenne investigation into child abuse – was published in 2010.
It levelled strong criticism at former police chief Graham Power and his deputy, Lenny Harper, for their handling of the investigation.
The Royal Court secured convictions against the last people involved in the abuse investigation.
Following this, the victims of child abuse received a formal apology from the then Chief Minister, Terry Le Sueur, who said that they had been let down by the system.
In June, 40 people who claimed they had suffered abuse while in States care made compensation claims.
The year 2010 also saw a report into the financial management of the abuse investigation published in July.
It found that public funds had been misspent on expensive meals, accommodation and first-class travel.
It also emerged that the total police costs for the three-year investigation had reached £7.5 million.
2011
FOLLOWING a proposition brought by Senator Francis Le Gresley, the States agreed to hold an inquiry into allegations of historical child abuse after the Haut de la Garenne investigation.
2012
AFTER a former Islander’s book was published, making claims of abuse at the former Grouville Girls’ Home, the police confirmed that six women had made complaints about the home to the force during the course of the historical child abuse investigation.
However, the police said that there was too little evidence in relation to the claims to mount a prosecution.
The author of the book, Jean Neil, included details of alleged abuse she suffered at the home between 1941 and 1951 in ‘Chairbound to Heavenbound’.
And 2012 also saw Jimmy Savile linked to Haut de la Garenne after pictures of the disgraced BBC star surfaced and were published in newspapers and online.
One online Daily Mail headline read: ‘Savile pictured at the Jersey House of Horrors: Paedophile DJ is surrounded by children at care home where 192 suffered abuse’.
2013
IT was hoped that the public inquiry into historical child abuse would get going in 2013, but half-way through the year Sally Bradley QC, the States-appointed chairman of the Committee of Inquiry, suffered a stroke.
The inquiry was delayed while a new chairman was found.
A few months later Frances Oldham QC, a senior lawyer with extensive experience in dealing with cases involving sexual abuse, was appointed to lead the inquiry.
She was joined by abuse inquiry panel members Alyson Leslie, who has led serious case reviews into child abuse, and Sandy Cameron CBE, a former director of social work in Scotland.
In one of the last States sittings of the year, it was revealed that 64 per cent of claims for compensation for historical abuse had been settled.
Chief Minister Ian Gorst said that 131 claims had been received, 84 offers of compensation had been accepted, with 47 cases still under consideration.
2014
Ms Oldham opened the inquiry and set out the terms of reference for proceedings. Hundreds of witnesses began giving evidence to the inquiry, both in written and verbal submissions, and the costs were increased from £6m to £9m.
Mickey Mouth: I totally agree with the notion that there’s should be a detailed inquiry but let’s also have some transparency on where this tax payer money is being spent. My guess/concern is that it will be spent on expensive lawyers/solicitors who will leech up the bulk of this money through inflated charges and their circumlocutionary practices.
Chatterbox: I voted for Bailhache and I am pleased he is saying this is a waste of money because it is. Time will tell if we get to £50 Million.
Constables out: We need more like Tadier not less,those that are prepared to stand up to the likes of Bailhache that deter speeches.
Gerry Cartwright: Well done, the States. Shame on those who voted against granting the additional funding, and particular shame on Philip Bailhache, firstly for his use of the word ‘plundering’ in relation to the strategic reserve, making it sound like a crime to continue to seek justice and the truth and, secondly, for abstaining from the vote. What a disgrace.
Slinky: The speech I heard from Deputy Montfort Tadier this morning was absolutely disgusting and it saddens me that we have such spiteful people elected into the States. If he detests Senator Bailhache so much then perhaps he should stand against him on an Island Wide Mandate next time.
[comments_cta header=”Are the States right to grant an additional £14 million in funding to the inquiry?” text=”Should a cap be put on spending?” button=”Log in to join the debate”
