Why do the survivors of Church of England abuse feel more angry towards Justin Welby the ex-Archbishop of Canterbury than John Smyth the evil abuser?

Whenever a big child abuse story comes into the media, my ears always pick up because it usually means that many survivors will be triggered into tragic memories of their abuse in childhood, and I am likely to be flooded with inquiries. As I listened to the headlines, I was intrigued that they centred not
Read more
No Comments

What Effect Does “False Memory” Syndrome Have On Victims/survivors of Abuse?

I have been contacted recently by two sets of authors both planning to do articles on False Memory Syndrome (intentional lack of inverted commas), for both a book and an article – see link at the end of this article – to which I gladly contributed, and which inspired me to write about the subject.
Read more
No Comments

Will Mohamed Al Fayed’s victims get justice under the law?

Introduction I must admit that I thought we had come to the end of all the celebrity abuse scandals until I realised that no one challenged the all powerful, but suspected sex offender Savile until after he was dead. Just as no one dare challenge Savile, just so Al Fayed. They were both a bit
Read more
No Comments

Was a Suspended Sentence for Huw Edwards Appropriate?

Radio 5 Live asked me to comment on the type of sentence Huw Edwards was likely to receive as the sentencing hearing at Westminster Magistrates drew near. I turned the invitation down because I am not a criminal lawyer, but was prepared to comment on the result from the standpoint of the victim/survivor of abuse
Read more
No Comments

Private Tutors Escape Vetting Legal Loophole, a Scandal

When I hear Angus Crawford of the BBC promoting an article, I always know that a valid child abuse story is going to eventuate. The fact that there is a loophole such that private independent tutors can practice without a Data & Barring Service (DBS) check into their background is something that needs tightening up,
Read more
No Comments

Should the BBC have sacked Huw Edwards when he was arrested and saved themselves £200,000?

When I am invited to give an interview to the media, it usually tells me that there is some relevance to child abuse, which often results in another blog. I have already done a blog article on Huw Edwards when the story came out last July on the subject of anonymity. This time both Lisa
Read more
No Comments

Will the government consultation on Time Delay in Child Sexual Abuse cases change the law by abolishing Limitation?

The Government has launched a consultation, the deadline for which is 10th July 2024, to which I will be responding on behalf of ACAL (Association of Child Abuse Lawyers) The summary states, to quote This consultation paper seeks views on options for the reform of the law of limitation in child sexual abuse cases in
Read more
No Comments

Are ‘posh’ victims of abuse denied access to justice?

In his thought provoking article in the Daily Mail (Thursday 4th April) celebrated author Louis de Bernieres who was a victim of abuse whilst at Public school in his early years poses the questions: ‘ Who can I sue? Who is responsible? What compensation is there for those of us who are approaching the end
Read more
No Comments

How does Earl Spencer’s Disclosure of Abuse Reflect on Boarding Schools?

I was prompted to write this blog after listening to Laura Kuenessberg’s interview of him for the Newsquest Podcast on Radio 4 – yes I am a gentleman of a certain age that now listens to Radio 4. His description of the meanness of spirit and bullying that went on behind closed doors chimed with
Read more
No Comments

Is The Introduction of Mandatory Reporting Worthwhile or Just Some Election Showboating?

The campaign for the introduction of Mandatory Reporting (failure to report child abuse by those in the child care area either witnessed or reasonably suspected should be a criminal offence) is several years old, and has been brought in by a Tory Party which is approaching an election with polls not looking favourable for them.
Read more
No Comments