Friday 7 January 2011

The Lions Sleep tonight?

Yesterday, Thursday 6th of January 2011, saw the final conviction(s) of the cases from “Operation Rectangle”. Anthony Jordan was sentenced to 6 months imprisonment and his wife Morag Jordan was given 9 months.


Operation Rectangle, as regular readers will be aware, is/was the police investigation into Child Abuse at State run institutions in Jersey spear-headed by Lenny Harper, Graham Power and their team of dedicated professionals. After Lenny Harper’s retirement and the possibly illegal suspension of Graham Power the investigation was taken over, and some would say “sabotaged” by Mick Gradwell and David Warcup.

The Children’s Home, Haute de la Garenne became its main focus, although there were other institutions such as the Sea Cadets and Blanche Pierre where allegations of abuse were made, but curiously no charges ever brought against the suspects and this is after one of the suspects had a miraculous recovery from a terminal illness!!

We have seen, over the last couple of years, what many of us believe to be, a handful of “show trials” a few lambs fed to the lions in order to keep the statistics of convictions up. In this posting I will just concentrate on the Jordans.

The violence, pain and suffering, that these two individuals inflicted on their victims is/was heinous and inexcusable. I was present at parts of the trial so know of the violence they dished out to the very people (vulnerable children) they were supposed to “care” for….but after listening to the evidence of their victims one could not help thinking these two (the Jordans) have been made scapegoats.

During the adjournments I got talking to a number of the victims and witnesses. One victim in particular gave testimony, in fact two witnesses that I know of gave testimony, but I got talking to one of them who was subjected to violent assaults from Anthony Jordan. Both said that the Jordans were not the most violent “carers” at Haute de la Garenne. The victim that I got talking to told me that when he/she first gave a statement to the police he/she didn’t even mention the Jordans because he/she didn’t believe the police would be interested. In comparison to the violence he/she was subjected to by another member of staff, the Jordans were pussy cats. In testimony the victim said when it came to dishing out violence xxxxxxx “took the biscuit”

This person (“carer?”) was named in the court by the defence advocate(s) and witnesses that many times that the judge asked them to desist from naming this person. Not being a lawyer myself it appeared to me that the defence might have been trying to show that if this person is not in the dock then neither should the defendants be, something that the victim I was speaking to didn’t necessarily disagree with!!

The victim told me that if anybody should be in the dock, first and foremost it should be xxxxxxx. The alleged abuser is currently a Civil Servant at the Education Department who was investigated as a suspect in the Child Abuse enquiry but was never charged. Not sure why not, whether apparently there was insufficient evidence or it was “not in the public interest”.

Many statistics were left out of the recent press release from David Warcup. One of them being that 93% of the suspects were never charged. Out of 121 living suspects 8 were charged, how does that stack up with the national average? Who are the remaining 118 suspects? Well we know one of them! What were their positions? How many of them are still employed by the States?

Anthony Jordan, who had absolutely no experience of child “care” was employed by somebody at Haute de la Garenne and was never given any training in childcare while working at HDLG, who employed him? Why was he not given any training? The victims were complaining about the abuse they were suffering, who were they complaining to, why haven’t they been in the dock? How was this abuse able to carry on for decades?

No managers, Senior Civil Servants, high ranking officials have been charged with any kind of neglect, dereliction of duty or Abuse……coincidence?………..or “The Jersey way?”

After the Jordans received their sentences, the victims I spoke to appeared to feel that justice had been, (to some degree) served. Is this because the victims expectations were so low? Or was justice served on the Jordans? Only the victims can answer that question.

There is little doubt that others should have been put in the dock, and might still face Civil action, but for the time being there are to be no more criminal trials coming from Operation Rectangle.

Is it the case that a few sacrificial lambs have been fed to the lions and those with more power and influence have been, and are being, “protected?” Only a full “public” inquiry will answer that question.

53 comments:

  1. No managers, Senior Civil Servants, high ranking officials have been charged with any kind of neglect, dereliction of duty or Abuse……coincidence?………..or “The Jersey way?”

    The Bailhaches and Le Marquand have desisted from prosecuting high profile suspects the excuse being not enough evidence yet as you state abusers still employed by the states were named in court unsurprisingly the Judge tried to stop these names being mentioned the whole thing stinks to high heaven The Jersey Way as sure as night follows day

    PS who was the Judge the sentences as expected with the Jersey way were ridiculously low

    Happy new year to you all keep up the good work

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  2. In March 2008 the Council of Ministers presented a report to the States which considered that, depending on the outcome of the criminal cases, it would be appropriate to hold a Committee of Inquiry. The Council of Ministers will now consider whether there remain any unanswered questions that require further investigation. We will discuss the matter formally in the very near future and bring forward a report to the States.


    Any unanswered question?

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  3. Why hasn't Mario Lundy been questioned about Haut de la Garenne and the court outbursts?

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  4. "No managers, Senior Civil Servants, high ranking officials have been charged with any kind of neglect, dereliction of duty or Abuse……coincidence?………..or “The Jersey way?”

    UNANSWERED QUESTION NUMBER 1.

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  5. "Sea Cadets and Blanche Pierre where allegations of abuse were made, but curiously no charges ever brought against the suspects and this is after one of the suspects had a miraculous recovery from a terminal illness"

    unanswered question number 2
    And

    "During the adjournments I got talking to a number of the victims and witnesses. One victim in particular gave testimony, in fact two witnesses that I know of gave testimony, but I got talking to one of them who was subjected to violent assaults from Anthony Jordan. Both said that the Jordans were not the most violent “carers” at Haute de la Garenne. The victim that I got talking to told me that when he/she first gave a statement to the police he/she didn’t even mention the Jordans because he/she didn’t believe the police would be interested. In comparison to the violence he/she was subjected to by another member of staff, the Jordans were pussy cats. In testimony the victim said when it came to dishing out violence xxxxxxx “took the biscuit”

    UNANSWERED QUESTION NUMBER 3

    THE COMPLETE B***er CASE

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  6. One more unanswered question

    Many statistics were left out of the recent press release from David Warcup. One of them being that 93% of the suspects were never charged. Out of 121 living suspects 8 were charged, how does that stack up with the national average? Who are the remaining 118 suspects? Well we know one of them! What were their positions? How many of them are still employed by the States

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  7. Mario Lundy is classed as untouchable. 'You take me out then I'll take others out with me'. Pretty common knowledge now.

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  8. Mario Lundy is protected. Check Graham Powers affidavit

    Not in the publics interest lol

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  9. “PS who was the Judge the sentences as expected with the Jersey way were ridiculously low”

    The judge is an English judge “Sir Christopher Pitchers”. Like I said in the main posting, only the Abuse Survivors can determine whether justice has been served. I’ve been present at a few of the trials he has presided over involving the “historic” Child Abuse cases, and have to call it as I see it. He seems to me to be a fair judge, but of course I am not a victim.

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  10. “After the Jordans received their sentences, the victims I spoke to appeared to feel that justice had been, (to some degree) served. Is this because the victims expectations were so low? Or was justice served on the Jordans? Only the victims can answer that question”

    You have hit the nail on the head VFC. Yes, the survivors expectations were that low! They have been down trodden so much over the last three or more years by our Government and the local media that they have all but lost their strength. Any form of justice, however small, is better than nothing for them, for now anyway!! Like you, I have spoken to many survivors of the Jordan’s and yes, they have said that the Jordan’s were not their main abusers. I know of at least two survivors who were contacted by the police at the eleventh hour to say that they were no longer being called as witnesses. They were distraught and very angry that they would not get their day in court, but thinking about it, I know that these witnesses are not afraid to speak their minds and maybe their testimonies would have been too much for the Courts to handle! It is my opinion that the witnesses were carefully selected, the quiet, cooperative ones and the ones whose memories had perhaps, through no fault of their own had begun to fail them thus throwing doubt on the entire case? Whilst the sentence is a disgrace, for the abuse survivors they at least have some form of justice and the Jordan’s are behind bars.

    This reminds me of the day I found out my sexual abuser of many years, an upstanding citizen of Jersey, a Freemason no less was sentenced to just one year in prison for years of sexual abuse and for putting a loaded gun to my head for threatening to go to the police!! At the time I was elated just knowing that he had been put behind bars, the length of the sentence at the time meant nothing to me only just that he had been locked up. How naive I was and like so many others, he was not my main abuser!


    Carrie

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  11. The Jordans were described in court as "intimidating bullies" who inflicted "casual and routine abuse" on vulnerable children in their care. I was in HDLG several years before Morag and Anthony Jordan started working there and casual and routine abuse was what I witnessed on a daily basis. I suspect this had been the way staff had behaved there for decades already and few staff received any training or guidance in their work. It wasn't just the rough, often violent physical treatment it was also the way staff talked to children and about them behind their backs. There was no respect. Staff had the power and the kids just had to take it or it got worse. Many just lost their self-esteem for ever and some like Michael O'Connell answered back and fought back physically as well. In the end they broke him too.

    Yes, there needs to be a full enquiry as to why the Jordans who were obviously expendable, faced trial and others like top civil servants, police officers, wealthy business men and officers of voluntary uniformed organisations along with houseparents of several family group homes including the B***ers and the houseparents of Blanche Pierre, who despite strong evidence, have been let off or protected by a government who answers only to itself!

    Well done to you Carrie,Stuart Neil, Rico, Jill and all of you who supported the survivors who have finally received some measure of justice.

    For those who are still waiting - don't stop.

    Lorna

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  12. A very fair posting VFC, maybe too fair on the part of the Oligarchy muppets. Very thoughtfully put though, as you have obviously considered the feelings of the victims in this travesty.

    Carrie, always proud of you for your openness and courage in speaking out hun xxx

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  13. The guy who broke his baby daughter's leg got much longer - 18 months inside! Her suffering was bad, but the fracture is mended OK, and given her very young age, she probably won't remember.

    What these two monsters did has got to be far worse in terms of long lasting effects.

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  14. VFC

    You have this post bang on. Like I have said before, we must not think that every judge is corrupt. I have faith that there is some fair ones out there. I have been impressed with Pritcher.

    What makes Stuarts court case, well all of them, so unique is that for the first time in many, many years someone is actually challenging our judicial system. This is being done by a person representing himself, the longer it goes on the more he is learning. He is pushing them into an awkward situation make no mistake.

    There are many questions that still need answering concerning HdelaG and all the children care homes.

    We will not stop looking for the answers

    I should have a new blog up this weekend

    The Jordans are in the 'Nick' bet they never saw that coming.

    rs

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  15. Hiil street blues7 January 2011 at 19:17

    So the criminal cases relating to HDLG have been completed with only a fraction of the abusers convicted or even charged. It doesn't have to be over.

    The biggest "get out" has been the alleged lack of evidence to convict. That is why so many have not been charged.

    If we allow that the Law officers were not "turning a blind eye" to evidence it may still be that the available evidence was not enough to prove the cases beyond reasanable doubt.

    As "Tony the Prof" has pointed out, the AG's office has a historical reason for being utra-careful about which cases they pursue, which seems to have made them too chicken these days to risk any case they recommend for prosecution being thrown out and thus embarassing them.

    Civil action.Civil action.Civil action

    A class or group civil action against the worst most mentioned offenders just might succeed because the level of evidence required for sucess only needs to be enough to show that "on the balance of probabilities" the accused committed the offences.

    I think that court transcript evidence from the criminal trials could be used whereby at least one often named individual was chacterised as being worse than the Jordans - this by more than one person.

    This "similar fact" evidence can strengthen a case where the evidence from one person alone is probably not enough to convict but simlar stories from many are. This was probably why Vandenborn got convicted without any significant evidence apart from testimony. Two witnesses' story's were able to do it, whereas one, on its own, may not have done.

    Plan a class action civil case.

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  16. Surely the people employed at the Education department, from Headmasters to catering staff to cleaners must know that their boss, their man incharge, incharge of them and their children....

    Will sooner or later have to explain himself?!

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  17. I would like to say, I am a victim of Jordans & the States, yes i know it is a small victory for us as far as the Jordans are concerned, But after the hounding from press, states, we did not have a lot left inside us, as also we had to deal with people criticising & slagging us Victims off saying we were only in this to get money, people have no idea how much that HURT, if only these people knew what we went thru & it has taken 30+ years & all of our STRENGTH & PRIDE we had left to get thru giving evidence, & all Court Apperances. So to all those people giving us a hard time, please think before comments are made.
    The Jordans got 6mnths & 9Mnths but us Victims have a Life Sentence as it is something that will live with us till day we die, the Abusers have no guilt over what they do.
    Thank You

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  18. Justice on a small scale, but justice nevertheless. A recognition by an outside judge that there were issues as to who was in charge and where they were, who was there to counsel and listen to these vulnerable children who were in the 'CARE' of the States of Jersey.

    And what saddens me most is that there are comments on the Channel TV site saying that 'these people' will never be satisfied and on another blog which does not merit naming, that compensation is no doubt an involved and that this sort of 'treatment' was the norm way back then, so somehow that makes it all right.

    Well, no it does not. These children were in care for numerous reasons and not as suggested that they were placed there by criminal courts. Even if that had been the case how can you rehabilitate a child by physical and verbal abuse? That is plain bullying and as we know bullies are cowards.

    Children in care are placed there to give them the next best opportunity to live something akin to a loving, caring family life. A hug and a cuddle, teaching them life skills as would happen in any normal family home. Battering and abusing teaches nothing but a repeat of the same sort of behaviour, and no parent or authority figure to turn to, so please, those of you who dare knock these people, if you have not been there you are in no position to judge.

    Still so many questions, still so many people that have not been brought to justice including the 'Unnamed One' who we are all aware of. The police may well have closed Operation Rectangle, but I am sure there are many others who will keep the case alive.

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  19. If it hadn't been for Citizen Media.

    Birt & Walker would have been knighted, Warcup would have been Chief of Police and Le Sueur & Le Marquand would have been confident that its all been "Put To Bed".

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  20. I’ve had a comment submitted naming an alleged Child Abuser. As much as I would like to, I cannot publish it. You are right, we can print the name but not as a Child Abuser……sorry.

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  21. not as planned
    Sadly from all I have read of this I think it is possible the were meant to be found not guilty.

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  22. To anonymous who is a "victim of Jordans & the States" I have to say all power to you! You say that you were "hounded by the press and the states and you also had to deal with people criticising & slagging you off saying we were only in this to get money" I can well imagine how much that HURT anonymous and I do have some idea of what you "went thru & it has taken 30+ years & all of the STRENGTH & PRIDE you had left to get thru giving evidence, & all Court Apperances."

    I am in awe of your courage and strength anonymous and you so richly deserved your victory over evil.

    The people who make hurtful comments don't understand or care but some of them are scared because there is far more to come. The Jordans may only have got 6 and 9 months but they will be having a taste of fear and deprivation at long last.

    I didn't know the Jordans but I knew the evil bullies at HDLG who went before them and some of them are still alive. Bring them on - I am waiting!

    I know you feel you have a life sentence as a result of what you went through but perhaps now you can have a little time off for good behaviour.

    I am sending a big virtual hug to your and all your fellow brave survivors.

    Lorna
    X

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  23. Jill I so agree with everything you say. Just one thing though. You write "These children were in care for numerous reasons and not as suggested that they were placed there by criminal courts."

    Some children were placed in HDLG by criminal courts though most were on "care and protection" orders which is a bit of a laugh in itself. In my time in HDLG the children on criminal charges were mixed up with all the other children although I believe that changed soon after I left. The crimes they had committed were often fairly minor and mostly down to inadequate and or abusive parenting. I remember some who were ther because they had retaliated violently to abusive parents or had been defending their mother or siblings from their father. Some like me were deemed to be "out of control". Which ever way it went there were no kids in there who deserved to go through what they went through. What chance was there for anybody to reform or rehabilitate?

    Lorna

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  24. Sir Christopher Pitchers - is he a secret family court judge?

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  25. That site is still pouring out bile and filth against the survivors of child abuse. Theres an incredible post on it by someone who thinks its ok to have teachers cracking kids heads open, that its a normal part of growing up.

    I hope none of the abuse survivors will get upset by any of the vicious posts on that silly blog.

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  26. Hi VFC

    For all the Abuse Survivors who read this Blog please don't worry about what is written on the Jersey Peado Blog.

    The reason I say this is simple: Most of the comments (98%) are written by the same person. He has such a huge hang up with Stuart Syvret that he will attack anything in his path.

    The Guy is a complete tosser. We don't speak on the phone anymore ( shame ). But when we did it was always stuart this, stuart that. Why does the Peado blog carry on when it keeps saying it's going to close? Attention, it craves Attention it survives on Attention.

    Only a complete low life tosser would attack Abuse Survivors. So please, if it winds you up please don't read it. Zoompad, refrain from ever mentioning it again, don't feed them.

    You don't need to be looking into the darkness anymore. So lets have no more talk of this evil.

    Now, i will get the ripping for this comment, but thats ok because I don't give a Sh*t.

    Stay in the light

    rs

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  27. "These children were in care for numerous reasons and not as suggested that they were placed there by criminal courts."

    The same in all the other Pindown childrens homes. The children were all jumbled up together, a lot were on "Place of safety" orders, which means that they went from the frying pan into the fire.

    To suggest that all the children in Pindown homes were their because they were little hoodlems is malicious slander. I do believe that people making such offensive claims can be sued.

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  28. "some who were ther because they had retaliated violently to abusive parents or had been defending their mother or siblings from their father"

    The frightening thing is that the secret family courts are STILL putting young people into "care" for trying to escape being abused by people who the family courts are forcing them to visit against their will. The use of Parental Alienation Syndrome in this country is a scandal, the MOJ has lied through its teeth about the use of this piece of junk science which was invented by an American paedophile.

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  29. Thank you Lorna & all the other people who understand our hurt & feelings.
    And to all you cruel & nasty people who have nothing better to say then write horrible comments, can i just say i hope to god this never happens to you or any of your family members. Please don't make cruel comments on nothing you know anything about.
    We have had enough hurt for over 30years & we certainly don't need more from people like you.
    Could i also thank Neil, Rico, Stuart, who have been in Court with us to give us support. Thank You.

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  30. “public” enquiry that should be inquiry

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  31. LOST CAUSE OF THE YEAR

    Every year, they somehow find it: a subject that almost no one who’s not actually in the States cares about, a subject that doesn’t really affect anyone that much and that doesn’t go anywhere.

    Choosing States reform is cheating, really, because it comes up every year. Going for GST exemptions doesn’t really work either, because it’ll happen sooner or later – and so the ‘lost’ part of the whole ‘lost cause’ sentiment falls down slightly.

    And that’s why the Lost Cause of the Year is the suspended police chief Graham Power/Napier Report/shredded notes sagazzzzzzzz… hang on, sorry, dozed off for a moment there.

    This is a cause that managed to drag in two politicians who normally show a fairly good grasp of political awareness and sense (Deputy Bob Hill and St Helier Constable Simon Crowcroft) as well as a whole bunch without any into thinking there might have been either a) a point to all of this, or b) some political capital in it. There wasn’t. There isn’t. Let it go.

    The Jep

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  32. Indeed, the last two words said it all "The JEP"

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  33. Anonymous quibbled: "“public” enquiry that should be inquiry"

    Enquire and inquire are interchangeable anonymous as are enquiry and inquiry. Inquiry is more commonly used in America.

    I am happy to be corrected again!

    Lorna

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  34. Ben,

    Your future depends on the one and only local newspaper.

    Not much hope for either of you really.

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  35. Correcting myself now I have done some research into enquire and inquire. Americans almost entirely use inquire and inquiry. In UK it has evolved now into enquire or enquiry when posing a question and inquiry when it is an official investigation so you can feel smug anonymous! I will now try to evolve too.

    Lorna

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  36. I'm listening to TLS on the radio

    I'm now heading out into the garden with a single bullet.

    Doomed we are all Doomed

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  37. JEP - LOST CAUSE OF THE YEAR/DECADE

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  38. This is a beautiful talkback. Vfc why is Terry on his own in the studio? ozouf was also on his own

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  39. Phillip Ozouf = Establsishment

    Terry Le Sueur = Establishment

    BBC Jersey = Establishment.

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  40. I have to call it as I see it and must say that I am “cautiously” optimistic that BBC Jersey just might be turning a corner. I’ve noticed a slight change since the arrival of the new editor Mr. Gripton.

    They now, not only allow me on the phone-in/Talkback but I don’t get the third degree and threats before I go on, or blatantly cut off when I am on. There’s still a long way to go before I am convinced they are an independent media that are supposed to scrutinize and challenge our government, but one has to be optimistic and give Mr. Gripton a chance.

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  41. Hi VFC

    I think BBC Jersey are worse under this new bloke. Didn't think it possible but there you go.

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  42. For the sake of history, can you change the year to 2011 in your opening line. Ta

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  43. Lenny, what are your thoughts of the level of sentence given to the Jordans?

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  44. Anonymous: Their reward for keeping quiet. Compare their sentence with similar thugs in the UK. Lenny Harper

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  45. If a light sentence was a reward for keeping quiet, then the judge must have been influenced at some point?

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  46. Don't hold out much hope for Stuarts case then,as it's the same judge.

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  47. I occasionally read comments on taking civil action against Jersey child abusers.

    who will finance it.
    How will this be done.
    When can it be done.
    Who will do it.
    Can only those who have been criminally charged be pursued,keeping in mind that particularly well known one has not been charged.

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  48. As a victim of abuse at HDLG, to me, the greatest justice would be for the SOJ to admit they were wrong! I'm not looking for money or retribution! A simple apology would resolve a lot of issues!

    You know, tne HDLG investigation, was to may people who served time there as children, was more than just institutionalised child abuse! It was also about reliving the nightmares of our childhood!

    It was about raising the ghosts that many of us would have preferd to have left burried.

    Yes we ended up there,and many would argue that it was because of bad parenting! Looking back now at how impoverished my parents were, despite my dad having faught in WW11 and gaining a commision, and, afterwards, despite the fact that he had three jobs on the go at the same time.

    And despit the fact that every winter my mother froze during the day so there was enough coal to warm the kitchen when we got home from school, it wasn't enough!

    To me. having to re-live HDLG, meant reliving a past that I thought I had burried long ago!

    It still hurtes even today!

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