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It is past time that a far-reaching enquiry into child care across the British Isles over the past sixty years was initiated. Why should we have had to wait for allegations of abuse in Scotland, Wales, Ireland and Jersey to seep out? Where else has abuse taken place? What dark secrets still remain to be revealed?
Revelations of alleged institutional child abuse over a sustained period, with further assertions that a culture of cover-up has prevented those who suffered from coming forward, has seen opprobrium heaped on the authorities in the Channel Island of Jersey.
There are already suggestions that the nature and extent of the Jersey child care scandal may in part be caused by the introspective nature of a small Island society and the incestuous relationship between legislature, judiciary and police that can exist in such societies.
Anyone who has lived in a small Island community would be less than honest if they did not accept that a 'closeness' between legislature, judiciary and police is an unfortunate reality.
However, the nightmare Jersey faces in confronting this evil aspect of its comparatively recent history is not something that is confined to small communities.
In Scotland we had the Shaw Report covering abuse of young people in residential care from 1950-1995. This proved to be such a huge task that Mr Shaw twice asked for an extension to the deadline to complete it. Many of those who suffered abuse were vociferous at the time for a more wide-ranging public enquiry - a call which was rejected by the then Scottish government
In Wales the Waterhouse Report into the wide scale abuse that took place in residential homes was released in February 2000. It spoke of systematic abuse, a climate of violence and a culture of secrecy that existed for more than two decades. Waterhouse was perhaps the most significant of a series of enquiries in that country.
In Ireland we have had the Laffoy Commission which became the Ryan Commission (In her letter of resignation from that Commission, Ms. Justice Laffoy outlined her belief that the actions of the Government, the Department of Education as well as the behaviour of some religious orders had frustrated her efforts and had slowed the commission's work.)
Indeed virtually all countries and communities of the British Isles have had child care scandal enquiries which have often been questioned or compromised.
Indeed one of the greatest scandals is that in Scotland, Wales, Ireland and now Jersey those abused felt no confidence to come forward despite the passage of several decades. Shamefully no goverment in the British Isles has initiated enquiries to establish that those handled by their care systems over five decades were not abused. It is only when a few have summoned up the courage to speak out that despicable nature and extent of the dreadful treatment they endured has become apparent.
It is past time that a far-reaching enquiry into child care across the British Isles over the past sixty years was initiated. Why should we have had to wait for allegations of abuse in Scotland, Wales, Ireland and Jersey to seep out? Where else has it gone on? What dark secrets still remain to be revealed?
J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League
27/02/08
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