Insiders reveal the 'autocratic style, poor memory and shaky grasp of British law' that meant Dame Lowell Goddard had to go as head of child abuse inquiry

By Amie Gordon And David Rose
Mail Sunday
August 7, 2016

http://goo.gl/dXylbO

Daniel Janner QC (right), the son of Lord Janner who died amid allegations of paedophilia, had planned to take Dame Lowell Goddard (right) to court

Staff have criticised former chair Dame Lowell Goddard, describing her as 'difficult' to work with and 'autocratic'

Her resignation letter was immediately accepted by Home Secretary, Amber Rudd (pictured)

Sources claimed Dame Lowell, appointed by then-Home Secretary Theresa May (pictured) just over a year ago, had lost the confidence of senior staff and members of the inquiry panel

In a damaging blow to the Government's inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, staff have criticised former chair Dame Lowell Goddard, describing her as 'difficult' to work with and 'autocratic'.

This comes after the New Zealand judge resigned on Thursday as chair of the £100 million Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA). 

Sources claimed Dame Lowell, appointed by then-Home Secretary Theresa May just over a year ago, had lost the confidence of senior staff and members of the inquiry panel.

Her resignation letter was immediately accepted by Mrs May’s successor as Home Secretary, Amber Rudd.

Insiders and lawyers in the inquiry, which is already besieged by setbacks, have accused her of acting in an 'autocratic' manner towards staff. 

One insider told The Sunday Times Dame Lowell was 'difficult' to work with and staff had to develop a 'thick skin'.

Another told the paper: 'Goddard's treatment of the staff and of the panel of four assisting her has been autocratic.'

The source also claimed Dame Lowell had a poor memory, which was 'painfully obvious', while a senior QC added the former chair had become a 'laughing stock'.

This also comes as the son of Lord Greville Janner revealed he had planned to take Dame Lowell to court, having criticised the 'disarray' of the independent inquiry.

Daniel Janner QC, the son of the Labour peer who died amid allegations of paedophilia, had sent an email detailing his plans just hours before Dame Lowell left her post on Thursday.

Legal sources say there was widespread dismay among IICSA’s staff and advisers that Dame Lowell seemed unable to get to grips with the colossal amount of material the inquiry was generating, which left her ‘overwhelmed and drowning’, while handicapped by her ‘blurry’ knowledge of English law.

At the preliminary Janner hearing, she seemed to struggle with the very law under which IICSA was established, the Inquiries Act 2005, and unsure whether she could issue orders restricting media reporting. 

It was also noted that she appeared unfamiliar with the role of a judge during a hearing, failing to invite opposing arguments in the normal way.

When probed as to whether Dame Lowell was effectively fired, a Home Office spokeswoman last night insisted it was ‘her decision’ to offer her resignation. 

But asked whether this had been suggested to Dame Lowell by officials because her position was becoming untenable, she refused to comment.