Abuse inquiry chief on brink

Abuse inquiry chief on brink as lawyers who quit reveal all: Barristers set to lift the lid on toxic atmosphere including claims of bullying and harassment by top QC which were allegedly ignored by the chair

• Professor Alexis Jay is set to be hit by damaging claims by barristers
• They claim she knew about culture of bullying, harassment, sexual assault
• She allegedly failed to act – then tried to cover it up
• Four of the lawyers have written to the Home Affairs Select Committee 

The chairman of the troubled public inquiry into child abuse will come under increasing pressure this week as a string of lawyers finally reveal why they quit.

Professor Alexis Jay is set to be hit by damaging claims by barristers who have left the £100 million investigation that she knew there was a culture of bullying, harassment and even sexual assault but failed to act – then tried to cover it up.

None of the seven counsel who have left has publicly explained the full reasons for their departure.

Read on… http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3953520/Abuse-inquiry-chief-brink-lawyers-quit-reveal-Barristers-set-lift-lid-toxic-atmosphere-including-claims-bullying-harassment-QC-allegedly-ignored-chair.html

Victims’ groups turn on head of abuse inquiry

Alexis Jay, the chairwoman of the inquiry into child sex abuse, was facing a fresh crisis this weekend after two more organisations expressed a lack of confidence in her, following the decision by one group to pull out altogether.

The Minister and Clergy Sexual Abuse Survivors (MACSAS) group is seeking an urgent meeting with the panel of the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse (IICSA) “to find out exactly where this is going, because none of us really know”.

Meanwhile, there are fresh concerns over a police investigation into child sex abuse allegations against the former prime minister Edward Heath.

Read on… http://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/victims-groups-turn-on-head-of-abuse-inquiry-fxg5c707j

Child abuse inquiry head Alexis Jay vows to continue

The chair of the independent inquiry into child sex abuse has vowed to continue after a victims’ group quit and called for her to be replaced.

In the Times, Prof Alexis Jay wrote: “I have fought for this… I don’t intend to stop fighting for it now.”

The Shirley Oaks Survivors Association, for 600 victims who lived in children’s homes in London, said it did not have confidence in the inquiry’s leadership.

But Home Secretary Amber Rudd has backed Prof Jay’s leadership.

Read on… http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-38037110

YP Comment: Abuse inquiry failing victims – Justice must be put first

NEVER before has a public inquiry been so beset by crisis than the investigation into historic sexual abuse of children.

The resignations of three chairs, followed by a wave of senior counsel, and now the withdrawal of a survivors’ group representing 600 victims of abuse have left this most important of inquiries mired in difficulties.

Two years on from it being established by Theresa May, then Home Secretary, the inquiry appears to be making no progress whatsoever beyond staggering from one episode of internal strife to another as costs mount up relentlessly.

Read on… http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/opinion/yp-comment-abuse-inquiry-failing-victims-justice-must-be-put-first-1-8247244

Sex abuse inquiry ‘lurching from disaster to disaster’, says Yorkshire MP

MPs have questioned the leadership of the beleaguered national inquiry into child sexual abuse after one of the country’s largest victims’ groups announced it was withdrawing from what it described as “an “unpalatable circus”.

The Shirley Oaks Survivors Association (Sosa) yesterday delivered a blistering critique of the troubled investigation – describing it as a “stage-managed event” which has “lurched from crisis to crisis”.

Read on… http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/sex-abuse-inquiry-lurching-from-disaster-to-disaster-says-yorkshire-mp-1-8246613