Public inquiry into Haut de la Garenne abuse claims

JERSEY A public inquiry is to be held into more than five decades of alleged child abuse at care homes on Jersey, the island’s Government agreed yesterday.

More than 100 people claim they were physically and sexually abused at different care homes on the island, with most saying that they were attacked at Haut de la Garenne, where the remains of a child were found buried on February 23.

Police are already investigating why allegations of abuse were not handled “as they should have been”.

Today the States of Jersey senators voted unanimously in favour of a full inquiry. Frank Walker, the Chief Minister, said that the criminal investigation would be the immediate priority but that “the only way to ensure that there is total transparency in relation to this issue” was for a full public inquiry to be held “in due course” into unresolved issues involving all care homes in Jersey from 1945 to 2000.

The move comes after forensic science teams at Haut de la Garenne – which closed in 1986 – found two more cellars in which some victims claim that they were held.