Sex inquiry cancels Janner hearings
THE national child sex abuse inquiry was plunged into further crisis last night after it announced that it was cancelling planned hearings into allegations of abuse against Lord Janner.
The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) wrote to Lord Janner’s family informing them that public evidence sessions due to begin in March had been scrapped.
It set no new date for hearings to take place. The decision has upset alleged victims who had been preparing to give their evidence. The public ses- sions into Lord Janner – the first due to be held by the inquiry – were originally scheduled for September. But they were delayed after Leicestershire Police complained it would jeopardise criminal investigations.
The latest postponement, with no new date in place, will raise doubts that the inquiry into the former Labour MP for Leicester, who died last December, will ever get up and running.
Richard Scorer, head of abuse at Slater and Gordon, a law firm representing a number of Lord Janner’s alleged victims, said: “Further delays to the inquiry are extremely disappointing for victims who have already had to wait decades for justice. We understand the legal reasons for the delay, given the ongoing police investigations, but the survivors need swift clarification on when the inquiry hearings will begin.”
Daniel Janner QC, Lord Janner’s son, said the inquiry into his father was “deeply flawed and disgracefully unfair”. He said: “It should be dropped. It is cruel to keep us in suspense like this.”
Mr Janner said he and his family had been told by informed sources that the public hearings would eventually be scrapped and replaced by sessions held behind closed doors. This was denied by the inquiry. The IICSA said: “The inquiry’s hearing into the institutional responses to allegations of child sexual abuse against the late Lord Janner of Braunstone QC has been delayed.
“This is in order to allow the ongoing police and Independent Police Complaints Commission investigations to continue so that we can avoid potential issues around witness overlap. We are still absolutely committed to holding oral hearings on this investigation.”
In a further letter to Mr Janner, the inquiry said its new chairman, Prof Alexis Jay, had reviewed its workings and “considered whether it is reasona- ble to retain” the March 7 start date but decided to put it back.
Lord Janner was never convicted of any child sex abuse crimes although prosecutors said there was enough evidence to have charged him.
A senior Scotland Yard officer is being investigated over claims he was too quick to believe the fantasist, known as Nick, who said he had been abused by a VIP paedophile ring. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Steve Rodhouse is among five officers being investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission over failings in the Operation Midland inquiry.