Claire Curtis-Thomas asked the following questions in Parliament in relation to the Criminal Cases Review Commission
- (21 Jul 2005) Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made by the Criminal Cases Review Commission and the Historical Abuse Appeal Panel on abuse cases; and if he will make a statement. Written Answer
- (6 Jul 2005) Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many judicial review actions against the Criminal Cases Review Commission have been resolved without a final decision in court. Written Answer
- (6 Jul 2005) Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many judicial reviews against the Criminal Cases Review Commission have been upheld by the court. Written Answer
- (6 Jul 2005) Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what percentage of cases referred to the Court of Appeal by the Criminal Cases Review Commission, result in acquittal. Written Answer
Our attention has been drawn to Home Guidance on Complex Child Abuse Investigations which was issued in May 2002. Paragraphs 1.9 and 3.2 (g) make reference to the need to ensure safeguards are in place in order not illicit false allegations, and the need for those accused of a false allegation to be treated sensitively.
We have been asked to clarify which countries in the UK have a Children's Commissioner.
So far Wales, Scotland and North Ireland have a Children's Commissioner in post. A Commissioner has been appointed in England but has not started in post
Although each of these Commissioners has a responsibility to promote the best interests of children their powers vary considerably.
A Pat On The Back
Posted by News Editor
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
F.A.C.T is rightly critical when Government departments and others fail to acknowledge the reality that children sometimes make false allegations of child abuse against their carers and/or teachers.
This week I have come accross two examples where Government sponsored agencies have acknowledged that children do sometimes make false allegations. Both of the examples are in Scotland.
The first was in a talk given bt the recently appoimted Children'sa Commissioner for Scotland and the second in an article which gives children and young peolpe advice about aimed atthe need to eradicate bullying.
Both are to be congratulated on bringing to the notice of the general public what most of us already know. Children do some times make false allegations of child abuse - something professionals find hard to admit.
If you are in need of a generic or specialist law firm try solicitors online which is part of the law society website.
If you are in need of an employment lawyer take a look at the Employment Lawyers Association website which provides an easy to use directory of all lawyers who belong to the association. You will also find details of solicitors who undertake pro bono work.
The following press release has been issued by Let Our Voices Emerge
Christopher Cosgrove had his throat slashed by a prisoner carrying a razor blade when he responded to a request to read a letter for him. What was a prisoner doing walking around prison with a razor blade ? The Let Our Voices Emerge Charity which provides support for those falsely accused of child abuse, have reacted with fury at the attack on Christopher Cosgrove, one of the so far - four Sligo teachers - to be convicted of child abuse. Chris had his throat slashed while serving his sentence in Castlerea prison, Co. Roscommon. His wife, who has already been living a life of hell and degradation now has to watch the husband she loves fight for his life.
Paedophilia is a horrific act, but even if Mr Cosgrove were as guilty as sin - does he or anyone else deserve to have their throat slashed ? Public hysteria has been whipped up to such an extent by some sections of the media that to be convicted of paedophilia is to have ones life put in danger. In the last few months we have heard Chris and others viciously demonised and attacked in the media. Some of the allegations which were disproven in Court were again repeated as proven fact in stories and on chat shows. Once convicted attacks, and beatings up in prison are commonplace. Why don't we just burn them at the stake!
Following intense lobbying by Clare Curtis Thomas (email) and Earl Howe of the All Party Group on Abuse Investigations the Home Affairs Select Committee have indicated that they are prepared to review their finding in their report on past abuse in children's homes. We do not know at this stage how this review will take place, however we expect the Committee to call for further evidence from those who have been falsely accused or wrongly convicted. As soon as we have more details we will let you know.
There is a very ill-informed review on Richard Webster's book The Secret of Bryn Estyn on the Freedom To Care website. F.A.C.T. members in North Wales will not be surprised by the somewhat biased view taken. Freedom to Care's principle objection seems to be the need to protect Alison Taylor from criticism and to champion the cause of the whistle blower.
A F.A.C.T. spokesmen said "It is somewhat ironical that an organisation named Freedom to Care should be so dismissive of a book which details how group of care staff's 'freedom to care' was cruelly and permanently removed. The issue is not whether Alison Taylor was a whistle blower but whether or not she was correct in her view and always told the truth.
The following news clip has been brought to our attention.
LONDON, June 30 (Reuters) - A 2005 best-selling memoir about a child abused by nuns contains passages strikingly similar to those in a renowned 1933 book on growing up in a convent, UK publisher Bloomsbury said.
Judith Kelly's "Rock Me Gently", released by Bloomsbury in February, includes numerous passages and characterisations that are similar, and in some cases identical, to those in Antonia White's acclaimed semi-autobiographical novel, "Frost in May".
The revelation comes as Bloomsbury gears up for the release of the sixth instalment of the Harry Potter saga, a lynchpin to the company's financial success.
"There are striking similarities to 'Frost in May' and other books and the author is at the moment going through the text and checking everything to make sure that the text is corrected for the next edition," Bloomsbury Editor-in-Chief Alexandra Pringle wrote in an email on Wednesday.
The next edition will be a paperback due out in February 2006, a Bloomsbury spokeswoman said.
The email was in response to a Reuters query about the similarity of the passages.
"We have sought legal advice and apparently there are not enough similarities to count as infringement of copyright," Pringle wrote. "However, it is obviously essential that this is dealt with and as swiftly as possible."
The media industry has been rocked in recent years by several high-profile plagiarism cases, with renowned U.S. historians Stephen Ambrose and Doris Kearns Goodwin among those facing accusations of copying others' work.
According to her publicity material Judith Kelly was born in Southampton. After leaving a Catholic orphanage in the mid-1950s, where the events of Rock Me Gently took place, Judith Kelly was placed into the Licensed Victuallers' School. There she was encouraged by her English teacher to read widely and develop her talent for writing. After leaving school, Judith spent time on a Kibbutz in Israel. When she returned to England, she was accepted into Chelsea School of Art and thereafter worked for the Keeper of the British Collection at the Tate Gallery, London, until she began her career in television production at TV-am, Reuters and BSkyB. Now retired, Judith Kelly runs a support group for those who were abused by priests and nuns within the Catholic Church.
We will leave you to decide whether her book is fact or fiction, and to what extent it represents events which actually occurred.
We have been asked to clarify whether or not Social Services Departments meet their legal obligations under the Data Protection Act by stating that they will only allow the person to see relevant records ut not provide them with an actual copy of it.
Does social services have to provide the social service records or are they allowed to offer the enquirer to come up and view them ?
The answer given.
"Social services can offer the enquirer the opportunity of coming up to view the documents. If however, the person insists on a copy, that is what must be supplied under the Act. Under the Data Protection Act 1989, if the enquirer asks for and specifies he/she requires 'copies of the documents requested', that is what must be supplied under the Act."
Please note: The issue of access to social services records is complicated. Not all records have to be shown or copied. Some records are exempt from disclosure.
Legal Dictum
Posted by News Editor
Saturday, July 23, 2005
On 4 March 2005, Justice Sir Michael Collins in the Royal Courts of Justice made the following statement when he was considering the case of Professor David Southall, who falsely accused Stephen Clark of murdering his young son.
“ He ( Prof. Southall ) did it ( accused Stephen Clark ) because he formed a view and he ( Prof. Southall ) believed it was in the best interests of the child. It is not in any child’s best interest to make an allegation against an innocent parent based on limited information, for that child to then to be removed from loving parents; that is in itself, abuse”.
Note: the Judge couldn't bring himself to use the second person singular. He used the third person 'he' ! )
F.A.C.T. is grateful to J.F. for bringing this to our notice
As the many supporters of Let Our Voices Emerge already know, we are a support group for child carers (teachers, nurses, social workers, and parents etc, who are undergoing allegations of child abuse they claim they’re innocent of.
We originated from the Industrial Schools, and formed to support our carers (mainly the Religious), who we felt were being unfairly targeted as child abusers by many of our fellow inmates. We knew that for many reasons - financial, emotional, celebrity, victim hood, status, etc, most of those making allegations of abuse in the Homes were jumping on the back of some of those who were genuinely abused.
While we wish to acknowledge the pain of those who suffered, we felt our carers could no longer go unsupported. We are now a registered charity, and exist simply to support. We belong to neither the religious nor any political party, but keep the channels of communication open with all of the religious congregations and political representatives.
Child abuse is a heinous crime, which must not be tolerated, but false and fraudulent allegations lead to irreparably damaged reputations and destroyed lives, this must also not be tolerated.
Solicitors Advertising for Redress Board Claimants.
While, obviously anyone genuinely abused is deserved of Redress under the RIRB, the wide definition of abuse, low level of proof required, and easy availability of collusion, ensures almost all claims (two out of two thousand and forty turned down so far.) are being met - which brands everyone accused as an abuser. The more accused, the more branded.
While the Dept. Education are advertising at home and abroad in a factual and professional manner, some solicitors are being extremely unprofessional in their behaviour, stating amounts of money available, close involvement with victim support groups, and displaying little or no regard for the fact they’re encouraging people to make allegations of child abuse…not simply army deafness or insurance claims. L.O.V.E has successfully contacted the Law Society who is investigating the situation.
Kathy’s Story
The book, Kathy’s Story details the alleged horror suffered by the author Kathy O’Beirne at the hands of the Religious in Magdalene laundries and various other institutions. Despite the fact she has produced no evidence whatsoever to back up what are extremely serious allegations, she has gained a very worrying level of credibility from some sources of a normally more questioning media. We contacted more objective media sources who were able to establish no proof either. Kathy's reaction to being questioned was to announce a hunger strike and protest march by former Magdalene’s outside the High Park convent. Thankfully most of the media ignored it but unbelievably TV3 news and a journalist I’d normally have regarded as quite objective in the Star covered it. All I can say about the hunger strike is –‘nice dog Kathy, but to go on hunger strike requires you to actually not eat .’ The Sisters must take stronger action on this, whether this woman is traumatised or not is of little interest to us as long as it wasn’t from institutional care, but what does concern us greatly is how she’s allowed to get away with so much. It may serve their philosophy of being compassionate, but while trying to help this woman, they’re allowing the reputation of the Religious to be attacked with no defence. This will not be tolerated. As I write this I do believe some action will be forth coming in the near future.
Prison Visiting
At the best of times prison can be a bleak place. Although most of our prison governors are thankfully quite humanitarian, and the majority of prison officers do their best, the prisoner is still away from their family and friends, is locked up with little or no personal autonomy, and their contact with the outside world severely restricted.’ So what, don’t they deserve it?’ is the reaction of most people, and yes, depending on the level and type of crime it’s usually justified. But supposing you’re innocent of the crime you’re accused of ? Supposing the allegation is from so many years ago you have no way of proving you’re innocent, Supposing you know you’re going to spend up to ten years locked up for a crime you know you didn’t commit … and all because you worked with children. God…I find prison visiting hard!
Sligo School teachers
Four teachers from the one school convicted so far - and a fifth heading for the Supreme Court, their guilt taken for granted by the vast majority, ALL OF THEM! If I were a teacher - now would be a good time to get another job.Where in the Stay Safe programme is protection for the teacher against allegations of abuse?.All it takes is one annoyed pupil or parent.
For further information on this update contact by email or visit their w website. If you’re in need of support or would like to support LOVE; they would love to hear from you.
Former teacher Sion Jenkins is facing a third trial after a jury failed to decide whether he murdered his foster daughter eight years ago.
Mrs Justice Rafferty discharged the Old Bailey jury after being told on Monday it was unable to reach a verdict.
Mr Jenkins, of Belgravia, London, denied battering 13-year-old Billie-Jo with a tent peg at the family home in Hastings, East Sussex, in 1997.
The 47-year-old will remain on bail as prosecutors seek a third trial.
Nicholas Hilliard, prosecuting, told the judge that the Crown wanted him to face trial again. A hearing will take place in the future to fix a date.
The General Medical Council has struck off paediatrician Professor Sir Roy Meadow after his "misleading" evidence in the Sally Clark case.
The GMC announced on Friday that Sir Roy had been found guilty of serious professional misconduct.
Sir Roy had stood by his evidence, but admitted his use of statistics at Mrs Clark's 1999 trial was "insensitive".
Mrs Clark was convicted of murdering her two sons, but she was exonerated after an appeal in 2003.
The GMC said Sir Roy's conduct had been "fundamentally unacceptable".
New Zealand Women Honoured for Services to Falsely Accused
New Zealand has an honours system, where twice a year (Jan 1st and June 1st ) people are honoured for their contribution to New Zealand.
In June 2005) Colleen Waugh was awarded a Queens Service Medal for Community Service.Colleen was instrumental in setting up the organisation COSA (Casualties of Sexual Allegations) in the early 1990s, and has continued to provide support for people who have been falsely accused.
This is a significant, and well deserved award for Colleen, and all that she has done from the early 1990s. More than that, the award is the most significant public award that I am aware of, anywhere, for services to the community where those services have been associated with support for the falsely accused.
We will be pleased to learn that there actually have been others, if that is the case. It is a significant and welcome recognition of the need for those services over the last fifteen years in New Zealand. The award deserves the widest publicity.
This item was first posted on the Let Our Voices Emerge website
F.A.C.T. AGM and Winter Conference
The F.A.C.T. Annual General Meeting and Winter Conference will take place in the meeting rooms adjacent to St Chad's RC Cathedral in Queensway Birmingham on Saturday 1st October 2005 commencing at 10.45am. A timetable and list speakers will be anounced shortly. Members who wish to submit resoulutions to the AGM are asked to do before the 1st September 2005.
Technical Problems
Posted by News Editor
Sunday, July 17, 2005
We are are sorry if at the moment you are experiencing problems with our web site or with email. We recently experienced a serious computer failure which required the purchase of a new machine. We we have not yet been able to transfer all our data. This could not have happened at a worse time as the website is currently being updated. We are sorry for any inconveniance caused and hope to back on line within the next few days.
Please note that the False Allegations Action Scotland website has been updated. This site will be of particular interest to those living in Scotland.