Sex abuse inquiry in disarray after top lawyers resign
THE future of the national child sex abuse inquiry was plunged deeper into crisis last night after the two most senior lawyers in charge announced their resignations.
Ben Emmerson QC, the counsel to the inquiry, quit at 10pm, a little over 24 hours after being suspended from the role.
Mr Emmerson’s deputy Elizabeth Prochaska, the inquiry’s junior counsel, announced she had also stood down, although it was claimed her decision was not linked to recent events.
In his resignation letter, Mr Emmerson insisted his decision to resign was not caused by a “difference of opinion” with Alexis Jay, the new chairman of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA).
He added: “It is now time for someone else to take the helm with a different leadership of the Counsel team.”
In a statement posted on the IICSA website, Prof Jay said: “There is no truth in suggestions that he has resigned due to a difference of opinion with me about the next steps for the inquiry.”
The resignations, following those of three previous chairmen, has inevitably raised serious questions over the future of the £100million investigation amid claims of bullying and misconduct.
Theresa May, who set up the inquiry, insisted yesterday it should not be scaled back and gave her support to Prof Jay.
Mr Emmerson, 53, was suspended as inquiry counsel on Wednesday evening. In a statement, the IICSA said it had become “very concerned about aspects of Mr Emmerson’s leadership”.
Behind-the-scenes negotiations culminated in Mr Emmerson’s resignation from his £400,000-a-year role.
IICSA has refused to disclose the nature of the allegations against Mr Emmerson, but sources point to claims made last year that he had made threats and intimidated panel members.
Mr Emmerson vehemently denied the allegations, describing them as “baseless”.