Investigation into Jersey Orphanage abuse reports.

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pgv

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This came out a few weeks ago now, I haven't seen a thread on here about it. I think it's absolutely telling of the corruption in Britain/France with regards to child protection, and it's horrific that this has been able to go on for so long.

A police investigation in Jersey has highlighted alleged physical and sexual abuse against children dating back to the 1960s.

The current focus is a children's care home where attacks may have taken place over three decades.

On a hilltop near Jersey's east coast, the buildings are familiar as a setting for the BBC's Bergerac series.

But, after 12 months of covert investigation, detectives believe the former Haut de la Garenne care home may have had a more sinister past.

Built at the turn of the 20th Century, Haut de La Garenne served as a school and as an orphanage, before becoming part of Jersey's childcare provision.

Until its closure in the 1980s, it housed up to 60 young people with special needs.

Jersey Police, following up a series of convictions for sexual offences involving officers from the island's Sea Cadet Corps, say they began to notice links between victims in those cases, and a number of island institutions, including Haut de la Garenne.

Deputy Chief Officer Lenny Harper told me that since deciding to reveal the operation, his officers have received over 100 calls and e-mails.

From those contacts they have identified more than 70 alleged victims, and at least 20 suspects.

Faced with such a major inquiry, Jersey has requested specialist help from the UK.

In the Incident Room, one local officer, Rachel Hart told me that many callers were distraught, others angry that complaints at the time had not been heeded.

'Not dealt with'

"They find it difficult to trust us," she said, "but I make it clear to them that this time we are taking any allegations very seriously."

Lenny Harper, who recalls similar inquiries in both the UK and Northern Ireland, says he believes these alleged offences span at least three decades.

The allegations range "from pretty severe physical and mental abuse right through to the most serious sexual crimes that you can imagine", he said.

"We will of course be looking to see if there are any criminal implications into why these matters weren't dealt with, and why they weren't brought before the courts."

Police say it is vital that any alleged victims still unidentified contact the Incident Room as soon as possible, on 0800 7357777.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/jersey/7127467.stm

Since the case came into the news, numerous 'punishment cellars' were discovered at the orphange as were buried human remains.

BRITISH police are to dig for six children's bodies at a former orphanage on the Channel Island of Jersey, where the remains of a child were found under the floor at the weekend.

The officer leading the case said yesterday that sniffer dogs had identified the six potential sites, following a police investigation that has taken statements from 140 alleged child abuse victims from as far afield as Australia, Thailand and Germany.

http://www.theage.com.au/news/world...ersey-orphanage/2008/02/25/1203788243857.html
 
Wonders how long it will take the Americans here to realise this is nothing to do with New Joysey. :hmm:

But, yes, a horrendous story. I was going to start a thread on this previously but it slipped my mind.
 
partygirlvox said:
This came out a few weeks ago now, I haven't seen a thread on here about it. I think it's absolutely telling of the corruption in Britain/France with regards to child protection, and it's horrific that this has been able to go on for so long.

Since the case came into the news, numerous 'punishment cellars' were discovered at the orphange as were buried human remains.
http://www.theage.com.au/news/world...ersey-orphanage/2008/02/25/1203788243857.html

Please, someone tell me why it took 12 months of investigation??
The first few complaints wouldn't have been enough?
or Jesus, a month at the very least..
 
It seems the entire case was a complete mess; because of so many 'ignored' reports in the past dating back to the 60's, they probably had to trawl through everything.
Why they ignored the reports in the first place :shrug:
 
financeguy said:
Wonders how long it will take the Americans here to realise this is nothing to do with New Joysey. :hmm:

But, yes, a horrendous story. I was going to start a thread on this previously but it slipped my mind.

To my own credit, I figured it out just BEFORE I read your post!

:)
 
financeguy said:
But, yes, a horrendous story..

It really is. It's unbelievable.

Did you hear about that little girl Shannon Matthews? That's another incredible story at the minute. Seems like most of the family were in on the 'disappearance'. :(
 
partygirlvox said:
Why they ignored the reports in the first place :shrug:

I bet this: "a school and orphanage for children with special needs" is a very large part of the reason the reports were ignored. Whether they were just poor orphaned kids or kids with disabilities they were kids no one really wanted -- not only did people not want them, they didn't want to look at or think about them either.

To me the worst part is that this type of story isn't all that unique. Horror stories from orphanages and institutions for physically and mentally disabled children abound.
 
indra said:


I bet this: "a school and orphanage for children with special needs" is a very large part of the reason the reports were ignored. Whether they were just poor orphaned kids or kids with disabilities they were kids no one really wanted -- not only did people not want them, they didn't want to look at or think about them either.

To me the worst part is that this type of story isn't all that unique. Horror stories from orphanages and institutions for physically and mentally disabled children abound.

I think that was a big part of why it was covered up, and also it seems that the Police themselves were in on this and determined to keep it quiet. It's affected so many lives and horrendous that this sort of thing has only come out now and not all those years ago.


And yes Lara Mullen I've heard about the Shannon Mathews story and I have really mixed thoughts on it. If the family were 'in on it' and the girl wasn't harmed at all, then I hope that is indeed true. But no one is actually sure yet what has gone on there, and whether the family are just experiencing a backlash right?
 
Yeah, but I think it's highly likely that the family set it up and it was just some sort of sick scam. :(
 
well the mother has been charged with child neglect and perverting the course of justice and police have confirmed that those are both charges related to the disappearance of her daughter.

there are loads of wild theories floating about as to how she was involved, but
the general understanding is that she knew where she was all along - i'm sure we'll find out if that is in fact the case in due time.
 
that's really sad if that's the case, I especially feel sorry for the girl caught up in it all and the friends and neighbours who were genuinely upset when she disappeared :(
 
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