Child Sex Abuse Inquiry Hit by Another Lawyer Resignation

Sky News
November 16, 2016

http://news.sky.com/story/child-sex-abuse-inquiry-hit-by-another-lawyer-resignation-10659383

Amber Rudd insists she has confidence in the child sex abuse inquiry.

The beleaguered child sex abuse inquiry has been hit by the resignation of another senior lawyer.

Aileen McColgan has reportedly resigned from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse because of leadership concerns.

The inquiry is now on to its fourth chairwoman, Professor Alexis Jay, after Dame Lowell Goddard resigned at the end of the summer amid claims over her conduct, which she has denied.

Aileen McColgan has reportedly left the inquiry.

Since then the inquiry's lead counsel Ben Emmerson QC has quit, days after he was suspended. His junior colleague Elizabeth Prochaska also left.

Ms McColgan was leading the inquiry's investigations into the Anglican and Catholic Church.

Speaking at a policing conference on Wednesday, Home Secretary Amber Rudd said: "I saw the latest news on the inquiry today. I would say it is a matter for the inquiry.

"They are an independent inquiry so they will manage their own recruitment process."

Lead lawyer in the historical child sex abuse inquiry, Ben Emmerson, has resigned.

Home Affairs Select Committee chair Yvette Cooper said she would request evidence from Ms McColgan, whose resignation was reported by BBC Newsnight.

Ms Cooper told Radio 4's Today Programme: "What's unclear is how much this has been about legacy problems and, clearly, personality issues, but whether there were also structural issues for the last two years and the difficulties they had, or whether there were ongoing problems for the future.

"I think if we had some transparency about the things that had gone wrong in the past then that will help us be confident that it's all back on track now."

Dame Lowell Goddard quit her role as chairwoman in the summer.

The Home Office has come under fire for its handling of the inquiry and what it knew about issues with Dame Lowell's leadership and when.

The Prime Minister has admitted she knew of concerns when she was Home Secretary but was unable to act because it was only hearsay.

Ms Cooper has called Dame Lowell to give evidence to the committee but the New Zealander has refused to cooperate.