UNITED KINGDOM
The Times
Sean O’Neill, Andrew Norfolk
December 15 2016
The Times
The former lead counsel to the independent inquiry into child abuse has been cleared of an allegation of sexual assault after an investigation ordered by his chambers.
Ben Emmerson, QC, a founder member of Matrix Chambers, had been accused of sexually assaulting a woman in a lift at the offices of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) in London earlier this year.
After the claim was reported in the media and repeated in parliament, Matrix asked Sir David Calvert-Smith, a former High Court judge, to investigate. Sir David, who is also a former director of public prosecutions, interviewed Mr Emmerson and the alleged complainant before preparing a report for the Matrix management committee.
The chambers said in a statement: “Sir David concluded ‘without hesitation’ that Mr Emmerson had not committed any act of sexual assault or sexual harassment. The management committee has accepted Sir David’s findings and is satisfied that they demonstrate no case of professional misconduct to report to the Bar Standards Board.”
Matrix, whose lawyers are known for fighting human rights actions and often represent the media in open justice cases against government secrecy, said the full report was “confidential and its contents will not be made public”.
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