The proposition, which was lodged by Chief Minister Ian Gorst, was passed by 35 votes to six with External Relations Minister Philip Bailhache abstaining from the vote.
Many members argued that the Jersey Independent Care 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 for the Island’s finances.
The inquiry, which is about to enter the next phase of its investigations by questioning alleged child abusers, was initially granted a budget of £6 million but the today’s decision takes the overall amount granted by the States past £20 million.
Vital projects may be axed’
USING money from the States ‘rainy day’ fund to cover the costs of the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry could mean vital building projects may have to be abandoned, the External Relations Minister said yesterday.
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)
Speaking during the debate on whether the States should approve increasing the funding by £14 million, Senator Philip Bailhache said that the inquiry ‘cannot continue without plundering’ the account, formally known as the strategic reserve.
And he warned that the costs for the inquiry, which initially had a budget of £6 million, would continue to rise during the coming months.
‘Experience has shown that the panel’s predictions were unreliable. I would be surprised if the costs are below £50 million,’ said Senator Bailhache.
‘This inquiry cannot continue without plundering the strategic reserve fund. If we had to make a choice between £40 million on a new Les Quennevais School, for example, and continuing the inquiry, that might make it more difficult.
‘But there is no other readily accessible money, and the only option is the Strategic Reserve,’ added the Senator, who said he would be abstaining from the vote because of a conflict of interest given his previous role as Bailiff.
Several States Members said that increasing funding by £14 million would not be prudent during tough economic times but many others said that the inquiry, which is also investigating whether any political interference protected child abusers, must be seen through to a conclusion.
The proposition, lodged by Chief Minister Ian Gorst, asked for the States to approve an additional funding allocation, taking the total amount of money approved for the inquiry past £20 million.
Following an evacuation of the States Chamber due to an electrical fault, the debate took place in St Helier Town Hall with most Members taking the opportunity to speak.
The Bailiff William Bailhache, who had presided over the morning session, removed himself from the hearing due to a potential conflict of interests. St Clement Constable Len Norman presided over the debate.
An amendment from St Brelade Deputy Montfort Tadier calling for no cap to be placed on the inquiry was defeated by 34 votes to nine with one abstention, with Senator Gorst arguing that there is nothing the stop the States debating further inquiry funding should additional costs be encountered.
Senator Gorst said: ‘Setting these limits allows the inquiry to set about its work without interference and gives a point of reference should further funding be required in the future.
‘Without additional funds the inquiry would effectively cease with immediate effect. We cannot stop the inquiry half-way through its process – that would be the worst of all worlds.’
Meanwhile, many other Members said that while it was important to get value for money, the inquiry must be able to continue in a manner that it sees fit, regardless of cost.
Deputy Geoff Southern said: ‘I can imagine the headlines now “tax haven sweeps abuse under carpet”. Stopping funding now would leave our reputation on the floor.’
In one of the more impassioned speeches of the debate, Deputy Sam Mézec, who urged Senator Bailhache not to abstain from the vote said that the decision ‘is a no-brainer’ and that funding must be given.
‘What we must not be doing is giving tens of millions of pounds to UK lawyers. Let’s not kid ourselves, this inquiry will cost more than £20 million. The strategic reserve is not free money.’
Transport Minister Eddie Noel
‘It is important that we don’t abandon the principal of allowing a response to evidence given so far, whether that be from individuals or institutions. Without that, it would surely create injustice.’
Deputy Richard Renouf
‘The forecasts have been changing by a million pounds on a monthly basis and we need reassurances that this money is being spent correctly.’
Deputy Scott Wickenden
‘This inquiry is about vulnerable people. We cannot allow ourselves to be derailed partly by funding concerns. We owe it to victims to see it through.’
Health Minister Andrew Green
‘If we do not allow the inquiry to continue we would damage the Island. The Island’s entire reputation is in our hands.’
Deputy Simon Brée
‘In many respects it is a no-win situation. I hope that the Chief Minister’s proposition is successful but make no mistake this would not be without consequences.’
Treasury Minister Alan Maclean
Simon Hall: I think there needs to be transparancy on what and who exactly this money is being spent on.
Paul Le Clercq: The Lawyers are rubbing their greedy hands together with glee….
Kate Le Texier: Absolutely the right decision. If the system wasn’t so corrupt here then it would never have cost so much for this inquiry. Yet again the taxpayer is paying for the mistakes of the government but this payout is well worth it to get justice for the victims and survivors of this abuse.
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
