‘Arrogant’ top lawyer suspended from child sex abuse inquiry in latest crisis to hit £100m investigation

UNITED KINGDOM
Telegraph

Robert Mendick, chief reporter
28 SEPTEMBER 2016

The senior lawyer to the national child abuse inquiry has been suspended from his £400,000-a-year post, plunging the investigation into its worst crisis yet.

Ben Emmerson QC was removed over concerns about his leadership, the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) said in a statement.

He had earlier been reported to be on the verge of resigning as counsel to the inquiry following an alleged clash with its new chairman, Professor Alexis Jay.

Insiders loyal to Prof Jay had described Mr Emmerson as “arrogant” ahead of the announcement.

This will be very distressing to many survivors for the inquiry to have suffered another setback
Gabrielle Shaw, NAPAC

In its statement, IICSA said: “The inquiry has recently become very concerned about aspects of Mr Emmerson’s leadership of the counsel team. He has therefore been suspended from duty so that these can be properly investigated.

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