Review of Child Abuse Inquiry to Be Published Within Weeks

By Sandra Laville
The Guardian
October 6, 2016

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/oct/06/review-child-abuse-inquiry-to-be-published-within-weeks-prof-alexis-jay

Alexis Jay took over after the sudden departure of Lowell Goddard in August. Photograph: Dave Higgens/PA

A comprehensive review of the way the independent child abuse inquiry operates is near completion and will be published within weeks, it is understood.

Prof Alexis Jay, the fourth chair of the troubled ?100m inquiry, is understood to have come to conclusions about how to move forward after analysing the multiple investigations and modules that make up the inquiry’s work.

Jay took over the inquiry in August following the sudden departure of Dame Lowell Goddard. She immediately set about reviewing its vast scale and its approach to its investigations. In a letter to victims last month she said of her review: “My aim is to explore new ways to deliver the inquiry’s investigative work while remaining faithful to its terms of reference.

“I will write to you again when the review process has concluded to tell you about any changes that we propose to make and to invite your views.”

Claims that Jay was going to alter the remit of the inquiry, which was set up by Theresa May when she was home secretary, were dismissed by Amber Rudd, May’s successor.

It is understood, however, that Jay’s review could conclude that some of the investigations and public hearings being carried out should be redrawn to become discussion forums and case reviews to air the issues in a more concise way, rather than the current format of multiple investigations culminating in quasi-judicial public hearings.

It is also thought the review could recommend that many of the victims who expect to give evidence in public hearings should be channelled into the Truth Project - the arm of the inquiry in which victims give testimony about their abuse in private.

A letter to some victims’ groups sent on Tuesday night informed them that if any changes were made to their investigations as a result of the review then the inquiry would “find an appropriate way of seeking core participants submissions at that stage”.

It went on: “Submissions are therefore not invited now but we will be in touch in due course to let you know if and when they would be of assistance.”

Andi Lavery, of the victims group White Flowers Alba, which supports people abused by members of the Catholic clergy and is a core participant in the inquiry, said: “We understand Jay is set to announce significant changes to the investigations and or modules on the inquiry within days.

“We find this alarming and very worrying development which utterly flies in the face of the commitment to make no changes to the inquiry made by prime minister Theresa May.

“We understand the investigations are to be significantly watered down and made almost a legal gesture, nothing more. Despite this decision having a significant impact on our lives we are deemed not worthy of being informed, nor having any objection to this.”

Lavery has been invited to a meeting on 13 October in London to discuss concerns that survivors have not been consulted. His group was told the review was not yet concluded and they will not be able to discuss it at the meeting.

The inquiry is still reeling from the loss of its two most senior counsel – Ben Emmerson QC, counsel to the inquiry, who resigned last week, and his deputy, Elizabeth Prochaska, who resigned from the inquiry team on 15 September. An internal investigation into concerns about Emmerson’s leadership style is thought to have ended with his resignation but the inquiry would not make any comment on the status of their internal inquiry.

Jay was appointed by Rudd in August following Goddard’s sudden departure. She was the fourth chair of the inquiry after the departure of the first two chairs, Dame Elizabeth Butler-Sloss and Dame Fiona Woolf, after complaints over their establishment links.

After her departure Goddard issued a critique of the inquiry, saying it was facing an unmanageable and impossible task. She suggested its terms of reference should be refocused to concentrate on present child sexual abuse and lessons for the future.