BBC Newsnight Accuses Sex Abuse Inquiry of Assault Cover-up
By Martin Evans
The BBC last night sensationally accused the national child sex abuse inquiry of covering up an allegation of indecent assault of a member of staff by a senior colleague. The alleged cover-up was categorically denied by the inquiry as well as the alleged perpetrator, whose lawyers told Newsnight the allegations were "completely false". The man was identified by the BBC Newsnight programme although the corporation admitted it had no evidence the assault took place. The Telegraph has chosen not to identify him for legal reasons. In 2013 the BBC was forced to apologise after Newsnight wrongly accused Lord McAlpine of being involved in the alleged sexual abuse of children at north Wales care homes. The latest allegations were said to have taken place at the inquiry headquarters last month when a man assaulted a woman in a lift. According to Newsnight the alleged victim did not wish to make a formal complaint but did "disclose" the matter, although it was not clear to whom. The BBC also alleged that the inquiry's new chairman, Alexis Jay, and her panel were made aware of the incident. A spokesman for the inquiry said: "It is not true that an inquiry worker made a complaint of sexual assault to the Chair or to the panel or to an official." Lawyers for the alleged victim refused to comment on the claims.
Despite the denials, the claims have been seized upon by critics of the inquiry, who have demanded that the process be suspended until an investigation has established the facts. Harvey Proctor, the former Tory MP, who was falsely accused of having sexually assaulted and murdered young boys, by the flawed Operation Midland inquiry said: "The Police needs to investigate these matters immediately and the Home Office should suspend the IICSA during the course of this investigation." The inquiry has been dogged by controversy since its launch in 2014. Three chairman have been forced to stand down and there have been claims that the inquiry could last as long as a decade.
A parliamentary inquiry heard last week that relations were so tense between panel members and its then chairman Dame Lowell Goddard that a mediator or facilitator was needed to help them get on. Theresa May, who set up the inquiry when Home Secretary, has also been dragged into the row over when she was told about alleged problems with Dame Lowell's management and why she did nothing about those concerns. The inquiry is the largest ever set up in Britain and is expected to cost more than ?100m. To date not a single public evidence session has been held and there are fears that delays will continue to dog the inquiry. The latest chairman Prof Jay is currently reviewing its workings with a view to speeding up the process.
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