BishopAccountability.org

Hampton Principal says sorry for ‘breaching common sense’ in 'sex' pastor case

Loop
January 09, 2017

http://www.loopjamaica.com/content/hampton-principal-says-sorry-%E2%80%98breaching-common-sense%E2%80%99-sex-pastor-case


Under intense pressure, Hampton School Principal, Heather Murray, has apologised to students at the institution for what she described as “a breach of common sense” on her part after her appearance at a bail hearing for an accused child molester.

In addressing a group of students at the all-girls institution in devotion on Monday’s first day of the new school term, Murray, a close friend of the accused man’s wife, explained that she went to the court as a Justice of the Peace (JP), to sign documents relating to the accused man’s bail bond.

She said she obstructed photo journalists taking pictures of the accused, Pastor Rupert Clarke, because his lawyer had indicated it was illegal to do so, even though she was not aware of that as a JP.

The principal said she was hurt over the allegations against Clarke, who has been accused of having sex with a 15-year-old girl. The 64-year-old pastor was allegedly caught by police personnel on patrol in St Elizabeth, in a compromising position in a parked car with the girl nearly two weeks ago.

Murray said she continues to be hurt by the allegations that he committed the offence, considering that his wife has stood with him for so long.

The case against Clarke has made national headlines and Murray's appearance at his court hearing prompted calls for her to be fired.

Among those who have called for Murray's dismissal is People's National Party Councilor for the Trafalgar Division, Kari Douglas, who said she found the principal's actions "deeply troubling". 

Commenting, Councilor Douglas said last Friday, “for far too long, communities and especially so people in society who should know better have sent both overt and tacit signals of support for persons accused of sexually molesting our children. I have seen in my division and across the country cases where little girls who are being abused are fearful of speaking out because the abuser receives support from authority figures. Mrs. Murray’s explanation for her attendance at Court is unsatisfactory and should be rejected.”




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