Did VIP abusers murder a boy?
Scotland Yard in new probe into paedophile ring at luxury mansion flats used by ministers
POLICE probing an alleged VIP paedophile ring are examining its links to a number of suspected murders.
Scotland Yard announced yesterday it is investigating a ‘possible homicide’ more than 30 years ago centring on a block of luxury flats popular with MPs.
The explosive allegation could even extend to a series of murders related to child sex abuse ‘parties’ involving senior politicians, spy chiefs and prominent military and legal figures.
Two witnesses have come forward reporting sexual abuse by a paedophile ring with links to government that took place at a number of locations including Dolphin Square – the home of many MPs.
One victim contacted police earlier this month, claiming a number of killings were linked to the VIP group. Another spoke to an investigative website. The information has been passed to Operation Fairbank – a Scotland Yard team originally set up to investigate allegations that a paedophile ring with links to government operated more than 30 years ago.
Police have responded with a new probe, Operation Midland, involving detectives from the Homicide and Major Crime Command and the Child Abuse Investigation Command. They are looking into a series of alleged suspicious deaths and stress the investigation is at a very early stage.
No names of any potential victims have been released. It is not known if the youngsters were reported missing at the time.
Last July, it emerged that a 40-page dossier on suspected Establishment paedophiles – compiled by the late Tory MP Geoffrey Dickens and sent to Home Secretary Leon Brittan in 1983 – had vanished.
A recent Home Office inquiry has failed to uncover the files.
Yesterday a witness in the case, who has spoken to detectives, told the BBC he was a child victim for nine years at ‘abuse parties’ at Dolphin Square and elsewhere.
He claims two former Conservative MPs, including an ex- cabinet minister, and other senior Establishment figures, sexually abused him. Speaking anonymously, and using the name ‘Nick’, the alleged victim said he had given three days of videotaped evidence to detectives. Now in his 40s, he said that he was first abused by his own father before being handed over to the group who abused him from the age of 11 between 1975 and 1984.
He was beaten and raped while his head was held under the water in a bath.
He said he was one of between 15 and 20 children who would be picked up in cars and taken to hotels and apartments where they were physically and sexually abused. ‘They were very powerful people and they controlled my life for the next nine years,’ he told the BBC. ‘They created fear that penetrated every part of me, day in, day out. You didn’t question what they wanted, you did as they asked without question and the punishments were very severe.’
He has given the names of those he believes were involved to the police and the BBC.
‘We weren’t smuggled in under a blanket through the back door,’ he said. ‘It was done openly and people must have questioned that. They need to come forward.’
The proximity to Westminster of the estate of 1,250 flats in Pimlico has made it popular with MPs, including ministers.
Last night, Labour MP John Mann said:
‘The punishments were very severe’
‘This shows the gravity of the situation. I have said there have been murders. I’m not the slightest bit surprised. There are more suspicious deaths that need to be investigated and the police are aware of.’
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: ‘Over the past month, detectives working on Operation Fairbank within the Met’s Specialist Crime and Operations Directorate have been made aware of allegations concerning serious non-recent sexual abuse, said to have occurred over 30 years ago.
‘Our inquiries have revealed further information regarding possible homicide. Based on our current knowledge, this is the first time that this specific information has been passed to the Met.’
Details of where and when the suspicious deaths took place have not been revealed.