BishopAccountability.org

Former child abuse inquiry counsel cleared of wrongdoing

By Sandra Laville And Owen Bowcott
Guardian
December 14, 2016

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/dec/14/ben-emmerson-cleared-of-misconduct-in-child-abuse-inquiry

Ben Emmerson had already decided to leave the inquiry before he was told about the allegation.
Photo by Anthony Devlin

The former senior counsel on the national child abuse inquiry has been cleared of any wrongdoing in an independent investigation by his chambers. Ben Emmerson QC, who quit the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse (IICSA) in September, was named in a BBC Newsnight programme after an inquiry worker revealed details of an alleged sexual assault in a lift.

The abuse inquiry, under the chairmanship of Prof Alexis Jay, has repeatedly refused to release any further information about Emmerson’s departure. His law chambers, Matrix, set up an independent inquiry into the allegations of sexual assault and sexual harassment. It was led by the former director of public prosecutions, Sir David Calvert-Smith.

Matrix said on Wednesday: “After examining the evidence, Sir David submitted his final report to the management committee earlier this week. In his report, Sir David concluded ‘without hesitation’ that Mr Emmerson had not committed any act of sexual assault or sexual harassment.”

Welcoming the inquiry’s findings, Emmerson said: “This has been a difficult period and I am naturally very pleased that an independent senior judge has now confirmed that the allegations against me were always unfounded. I hope that the inquiry can now be left to get on with its important work, free from unnecessary distractions.”

Emmerson resigned after being suspended by the inquiry over concerns, it said, “about aspects of Mr Emmerson’s leadership of the counsel team”. The prime minister, Theresa May, was forced to step in to express her confidence in the inquiry, which is costing £100m over five years.

A review of the inquiry’s work, which has been carried out by Jay, is due to be published in the near future.

The allegation of sexual harassment was not put to Emmerson before he resigned from the inquiry. Panel members on the inquiry were made aware of the allegations. The highly experienced QC had already made his decision to leave the child abuse inquiry before he was told about the allegation.

In the meantime, IICSA has formally launched a separate, independent examination of the way Emmerson’s resignation was handled. It may now ask why Emmerson was not asked about the now discredited allegation at the time so that he could respond.

Emmerson is now back working on international cases, his previous area of legal specialisation.

The human rights campaigner Helena Kennedy, who has worked with Emmerson, welcomed the independent inquiry’s finding that dismissed the allegations of sexual misconduct.

“I have known Ben for many, many years,” Lady Kennedy said. “He’s a feminist. He lives as he speaks. He had discussed this matter with me. He’s not someone who takes liberties with people. I shared his shock when a public allegation was made. I’m satisfied that it was ill-founded.”




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