Paedophile ex-police chief named in new abuse review
CONVICTED paedophile and former police chief Gordon Anglesea has been named in an updated review into historical abuse by establishment figures in former north Wales children’s homes.
Lady Justice Macur’s report into the 2000 Waterhouse inquiry had originally redacted his name when it was published last year.
Now Welsh Secretary, Alun Cairns said Anglesea’s conviction and death meant there was “no reason” to keep his name secret.
The newly-published review concluded that “considerable efforts were made in pursuit of evidence against Gordon Anglesea”, and that North Wales Police had wanted to prosecute him some years previously but the Crown Prosecution Service decided against it.
The review says that Anglesea’s association with Freemason lodges, golf clubs and children’s homes were investigated and “dutifully followed through” with further evidence being secured against him.
But she said the decision not to prosecute may have deterred witnesses from coming forward to give evidence to the Waterhouse inquiry.
The report also reveals that one witness believed pictures depicting Anglesea involved in illegal sexual activity had been destroyed.
The former North Wales Police superintendent from Old Colwyn, was convicted in October 2016 of indecently assaulting two boys and was sentenced to 12 years in prison.
The 79-year-old died in jail in December 2016.
Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns told MPs: “In light of Gordon Anglesea’s death there is no reason for his name to continue to be redacted, except where there is any risk that victims, witnesses or other individuals might be identified.
“I have today, therefore, laid a revised version of the Macur Review report with references to Gordon Anglesea reinstated except where an ongoing risk has been identified.
“The other redactions in the report remain.”
Sir Ronald Waterhouse’s inquiry looked into historical child abuse in care in the former Gwynedd and Clwyd council areas between 1974 and 1996.
It found there had been “appalling mistreatment” of children over 20 years but nothing pointed to abuse by prominent public figures.
However, concerns were raised it had uncovered only a fraction of the abuse.
An independent review was ordered by then-Justice Secretary Chris Grayling in 2012.
At the same time Operation Pallial, an independent National Crime Agency investigation, was charged with looking into new allegations and reviewing the historical police investigations.
Freemasonry was also soundly researched and it was not unreasonable for the Waterhouse inquiry to find there was no further paedophile ring operating.
Lady Justice Macur made several recommendations to the Secretary of State for Justice and the Secretary of State for Wales, including that all correct material be archived in future.
She said all government departments should have an accurate database of the materials they hold.
A UK government spokesman said: “The Secretary of State for Wales is committed to ensuring that there is as much transparency as possible around the incidents that took place in north Wales since the 1970s.
“The redactions in the initial Macur report were made in line with advice received from Lady Justice Macur to protect victims, witnesses and ongoing criminal proceedings.
“The amended report published today removes redactions relating to Gordon Anglesea, except where there is a risk that victims, witnesses or other individuals might be identified.”