Media's Role.

13 December 2010


Jersey historic abuse investigation ends



Jersey police have announced the end of a three-year long investigation into historic child abuse in the island's care homes.

From September 2007, police took 1,776 statements from 192 victims, identifying 151 alleged abusers.

Seven people were successfully prosecuted in Operation Rectangle, which cost £7.5m.

The investigation began after allegations of abuse at former children's home Haut de la Garenne.

More than half the alleged offences were committed at the home and more than half of the offences reported were sexual. The rest were assaults or claims of neglect and ill treatment.

Although there were no more prosecutions expected in the historic abuse inquiry, Jersey police said they would continue to thoroughly investigate all allegations of abuse.

Thirty of the alleged offenders had died before they could be prosecuted.

Those found guilty were:

Gordon Claude Wateridge was found guilty of assault on three girls while he was a house parent at Haute de la Garenne between 1969 and 1979.

Claude James Donnelly was jailed in June 2009 for 15 years for rape and indecent assault.

Michael Aubin was given two years probation for various sexual offences at Haut de la Garenne between 1977 and 1980

Ronald George Thorne was spent 12 months in prison for gross indecency between 1983 and 1984

Leonard Miles Vandenborn was ailed for 12 years for the rape and indecent assault of two young girls in the 1970s and 1980s.

Morag and Tony Jordan, former house parents at Haute de la Garenne, were found guilty of assaulting children in their care. The couple, of Angus, Scotland, will be sentenced in January.

David Warcup, Acting Chief Officer of the States of Jersey Police, said: "Investigations of this nature are particularly difficult and protracted, especially for the victims, and officers have worked hard to ensure that the needs of victims have been met.

"Every allegation or complaint has been given full and proper consideration and all possible lines of enquiry have been pursued.

"At this point in time, there is no evidence from which it would be possible to mount any further prosecutions.

"Should evidence become available then the force will review this to determine what, if any, further action should be taken."



That’s what’s on our Local BBC’s Web Site. Not a Lot.



There could & there should be more questions asked. Investigative Journalism That’s what we want over here.

NOT WHAT WE’VE GOT.



The JEP just do as there told by our Government, Channel TV the same but when the our local BBC do it that is out of order.



Why can’t they find out why there was ONLY 8 People prosecuted out of a possible 121 alleged offenders. It may take a bit of hard work & some difficult question’s, but WHY do there just lie down & take the Government Line.!



Here’s one person that has got more Ball’s then anyone at our good old BBC. But he’s not a Journalist he’s someone that care’s.



On Radio Jersey 12.10pm. 14/12/10.






Now Lessen to this. ITV 22.35pm. 14/12/10.







This is from a Program I just happened to come across last night.

Here we have Fran Unsworth. BBC Head of newsgathering & David Manion. Editor in Chief, ITV News. Both Were on The War You Don’t See. By John Pilger.

They are discussing the war in Iraq, I know its some what off subject, but John Pilger is asking why did they not Investigate the Government’s Line at the time of why were we going to war more thoroughly, It could of saved Hundred’s of Thousand’s of Life’s!


So the BBC are able to question the Government & take them to Task but only if that is what they want to do!
We need to Question the BBC in what is there role, is it to just repeat the Government Line or is it to Question & Scrutinize the Government Line. We are lead to believe what the BBC tell us, not left with more Question’s then Answer’s.


Very good program well worth a watch. We need the likes of John Pilger over here.

You can see the program Here

I hope the new boss of BBC Jersey reads this & gets the message? But I wont hold my breather.