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New Child Sex Abuse Inquiry Crisis As Two Lawyers Announce Their Resignations in One Day

By Robert Mendick
Telegraph
September 29, 2016

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/09/29/new-child-sex-abuse-inquiry-crisis-senior-lawyer-quits-in-protes/

Elizabeth Prochaska quit the inquiry

The future of the national child sex abuse inquiry was plunged deeper into crisis on Thursday night after the two most senior lawyers in charge announced their resignations.

Ben Emmerson QC, the counsel to the inquiry, quit at 10pm last night, a little over 24 hours after being suspended from the role.

Mr Emmerson’s deputy Elizabeth Prochaska, the inquiry’s junior counsel, announced she had also stood down although it was claimed her decision was not linked to recent events.

Alexis Jay and Ben Emmerson

In his resignation letter, Mr Emmerson insisted his decision to resign was not caused by a “difference of opinion” with Alexis Jay, the new chairman of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA).

Mr Emmerson added: “It is now time for someone else to take the helm with a different leadership of the Counsel team.”

In a statement posted on the IICSA website, Prof Jay said: "There is no truth in suggestions that he has resigned due to a difference of opinion with me about the next steps for the inquiry."

Profile | Alexis Jay



The resignations, following those of three previous chairman, has inevitably raised serious questions over the future of the ?100?million investigation amid claims of bullying and misconduct.

Theresa May, who set it up, insisted yesterday the inquiry should not be scaled back and gave her support to Professor Jay.

Mr Emmerson, 53, was suspended as inquiry counsel on Wednesday evening in a statement in which IICSA said it had become “very concerned about aspects of Mr Emmerson’s leadership”.

Mr Emmerson called in Bindmans solicitors to act for him. Behind the scenes negotiations culminated in Mr Emmerson’s resignation from his ?400,000-a-year role.

IICSA has refused to disclose the nature of the allegations against Mr Emmerson, but sources point to claims made last year that he had made threats and intimidated panel members. Mr Emmerson denied the allegations vehemently, describing them as “baseless”.

The Commons home affairs select committee will call Prof Jay, who led an inquiry into child abuse in Rotherham, to explain why Mr Emmerson was suspended and to reassure victims that the inquiry will not be further delayed.

Dame Lowell quit her position in the Inquiry CREDIT: JACK TAYLOR/AFP

Previous chairman Dame Lowell Goddard resigned in the summer amid claims she and Prof Jay had fallen out. One source said that Dame Lowell, a New Zealand High Court judge, and Prof Jay only communicated through mediators by the time she resigned and Prof Jay took up the post.

Problems within the inquiry, The Telegraph has been told, include astonishing allegations that one senior official had been “permanently drunk” and had even expressed racist views on official business.

IICSA has moved to reassure victims. “We are aware that recent events are unsettling, particularly for victims and survivors of child sexual abuse and all those who are engaged with the inquiry’s work. It has been said that the Inquiry is in crisis. This is simply not the case,” said a spokesman.

The Prime Minister gave her full support to IICSA. Mrs May said: “We need to investigate, we need to learn the lessons of the past and if we don’t do that we can’t guarantee we are going to be able to stop such abuse from happening again in the future.”

A Home Office spokesman said Ms Rudd still has full confidence in the inquiry, adding: “Ben Emmerson’s suspension is a matter for the independent inquiry.”

 

 

 

 

 




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