UNITED KINGDOM
Yorkshire Post
Dame Lowell Goddard’s decision to quit as head of the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse – 18 months after she took on the role – has been met with concern from campaign groups amid fears the investigation will be derailed.
The inquiry is now looking for its fourth chairman since its launch, in the summer of 2014, to carry out the 13 separate investigations.
Matthew Reed, chief executive of The Children’s Society, said: “The crucial work of the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse must not be derailed by the departure of the chair.
These are the 13 issues the inquiry is investigating:
• Allegations of child sexual abuse linked to Westminster.
This will be an “overarching inquiry” into allegations of abuse and exploitation involving “people of public prominence associated with Westminster”. It will examine high profile claims involving “current or former” MPs, senior civil servants and members of the intelligence and security agencies.
• The Roman Catholic Church.
This will look into the extent of any institutional failures to protect children from abuse within the church in England and Wales. The investigation is expected to identify specific case studies, with the first examining the English Benedictine Congregation, which has been the subject of numerous allegations of child sexual abuse. The Catholic church in England and Wales said it has set up a council to assist the inquiry, adding it is “committed to the safeguarding of all children and vulnerable adults”.
• The Anglican Church.
This investigation will look at the extent of any institutional failures to protect children from abuse within the Anglican Church. The Church of England said it welcomed chair Justice Lowell Goddard’s statement, adding that the Archbishop of Canterbury has requested that the church be one of the first institutions to be considered in the work of the inquiry.
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