Thursday 12 May 2016

Adrian Lynch update.





A week ago today we published this BLOG POSTING setting out a number of questions concerning the disappearance of Adrian Lynch and the police's efforts to solve the case. For those who have been following this tragic story. Twenty year-old Adrian was reported missing on the 5th December 2015 after failing to return home from a work's Christmas Party at the Merton Hotel. He remains missing more than five months later.

We sent the Blog Posting, with the published questions, to the States of Jersey Police (SOJP) in the hope they would reassure the online community by answering ALL the questions to the best of their ability. Unfortunately this was not the case.

Below are extracts from the e-mail VFC sent to DCI/SIO Lee Turner, and below that, are extracts of the reply from his Press Officer.


"Dear Detective Chief Inspector.

Today (on the 5 month anniversary of Adrian's disappearance) I have published a Blog on the subject that can be read here http://voiceforchildren.blogspot.com/2016/05/adrian-lynch-investigation-questions-to.html

The Blog Posting includes a number of questions surrounding the police investigation. These questions were taken (but not exclusively) from social media sites such as Facebook/Twitter and Blog readers. They are questions being asked by the general public in other words.

You will note that the general consensus is that there is little confidence in the investigation and in particular that Adrian might have succumbed to Hypothermia.

This, as I have mentioned in the Blog Posting, could be down to a number of reasons, one being that you/SOJP have not got your message out adequately through the media?

In an attempt to curtail (as much as possible) conspiracy theories would you please answer the questions posed in the main Blog Posting?

DCI Lee Turner.

Reply from Press Officer.

"Thank you for your letter and sharing your concerns into the disappearance of Adrian. After reading the questions listed on the blog, we can confirm that the majority of the answers you require have already been made available to the public, through the many press releases and media appeals that the police have issued over the last 5 months. We have also listed this information on our website as is usual practice and I have enclosed the link to our news archive.


The last release relating to the search for Adrian was posted on April 12th, you can view all of the other related releases by scrolling through the pages of early 2016 and December 2015.

You will also find on here the map of the designated search zones. All of this information has been available to the public and we have shared as much information as we possibly could with them. Contrary to belief, the investigation is not holding anything back. What we know, we have shared."(END)

We argue that the majority of our questions HAVEN'T been answered and the SOJP haven't been as helpful as they could have been. This is something we hope to return to at a later date.

Today we want to concentrate on questions asked (or not) in the Island's  Parliament two days ago (Tuesday 10 May) from Deputy Mike Higgins to the Home Affairs Minister regarding Adrian's disappearance and the Police's investigation. Below is the audio recording of those questions and the Home Affairs Minister's "answers."

Home Affairs Minister
Deputy Kristina Moore

Readers will note (from the audio recording below) that the Home Affairs Minister claims "I am grateful to the Deputy for maintaining the profile of this important case and particularly amongst us, most member of the Assembly are parents themselves, I'm sure that we all want to remind Adrian's family how much we sympathies with them and express how we wish after five terrible months of agony their pain can be eased by finding this young man and answering the many questions they must have."(END)

Firstly readers should be aware, that according to Adrian's father, "No politicians have been in contact with us since Ady went missing""I contacted Mike Higgins after hearing on radio that it was going to be debated in States. This was the first I had heard about it. I am happy that Mr Higgins is showing us support in finding my son"

Connetable Juliette Gallichan.

This, if correct, is a truly staggering revelation. The Lynch family live in St Mary, on the boarder of St John. What happened to the Parish "community spirit" we are told so much about? The Connetable being the Mother/Father of the Parish? In this case the Connetable/mother of the Parish being Juliette Gallichan. How can it be that NONE of their own elected representatives have contacted Adrian's parent's in order to show, if not political, but practical or moral/emotional support? What does this say about the Parish system? What does this say to the wider community? If your child goes missing don't expect any help/support from us? It could be, in fairness to the elected representatives, that they feel they don't want to intrude on the Lynch family so have resisted contacting them directly.

If this is the case then why not, as quoted by the Home Affairs Minister,  "answer the many questions they must have?" Why not just ask one question in the parliament as Deputy Mike Higgins did? The fact is that not a single States Member asked a question during that States Sitting on the back of Deputy Higgins' question.

This is a damming indictment of our Island's Parliament. A twenty year-old boy disappears, without a trace, and out of forty nine so-called "independent" politicians only one of them can show any kind of public support to the family? Only one politician attempts to hold a Minister to account? No other politician has a question for the Home Affairs Minister/police in this very sad, tragic and controversial case? 

Some readers might think this doesn't effect/concern you, but what if it was your child? What if your child was missing under such suspicious circumstances, the police's official line doesn't make sense to the general public/lay person. Who could you rely on for support? Has your Deputy/Constable or Senator asked a question in the States concerning this case? You might want to contact them  and ask them? If so all States Members contact details can be found HERE. 

Deputy Mike Higgins.

Deputy Higgins asked another crucial question (audio below) of the Home Affairs Minister. What were the recommendations made by the outside partner agencies who reviewed the investigation into Adrian's disappearance? This question is crucial because one of the recommendations could have been that the investigation should have been up-graded to a murder inquiry. Another could have been that the SOJP don't have the expertise in this field and the investigation could/should be handled by a UK force who do have expertise in this area. There are many more recommendations that could have been made but the Home Affairs Minister won't tell us what they are. This could be for operational reasons and the Minister has advised Deputy Higgins to put the question to the police which we believe he will be doing shortly.

As posted above, the Home Affairs Minister stated: "I am grateful to the Deputy for maintaining the profile of this important case and particularly amongst us, most members of the Assembly are parents themselves, I'm sure that we all want to remind Adrian's family how much we sympathies with them and express how we wish after five terrible months of agony their pain can be eased by finding this young man and answering the many questions they must have."

The audio recording bears little, or no resemblance, to that statement.

Our thoughts and support remain with Adrian's family, and friends,  through, what must be, such an agonising time of uncertainty and turmoil.

For related Blogs published by Team Voice on the disappearance/police investigation of Adrian Lynch please click on the labels at the bottom of the posting. Alternatively please click on the links below.

Adrian Lynch still missing. DAY FIVE.

Adrian Lynch still missing. DAY 7/8

Adrian Lynch still missing. DAY/13/14

Adrian Lynch still missing. DAY 31/32

Adrian Lynch still missing. DAY 35/36


Adrian Lynch Investigation. QUESTIONS TO THE STATES OF JERSEY POLICE.


37 comments:

  1. Thank you so much VFC for keeping Adrian in the spotlight.

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  2. Get Bowron out searching instead of searching for Jersey Beaver in King St.

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    1. If the person that went missing was wearing high heels and a skirt you know sniffer Bowron would have them found in no time. This is a serious case that needs to go into their solved file not unsolved.. Let's have an Adrian day.

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  3. "Contrary to belief, the investigation is not holding anything back. What we know, we have shared."

    Have the SOJP searched the North Coast by land ,sea or air? It's the most obvious location to check.

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  4. Set up a list of peoples to approach Bowron in town to question him, see how long he continues his forays in the city centre

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  5. Sorry to change the subject to something equally important and topical.
    Statement from The COI:
    "It is a matter of regret that the Inquiry did not have sight of the draft report prior to it being submitted to the Chief Minister as this would have allowed the many inaccuracies in the report to be corrected at an early stage.
    No formal complaints have been made to the Data Commissioner.
    The Inquiry is satisfied that the data protection systems in place are as robust as is required in handling sensitive material.
    The Panel do not intend to make any further statement on this matter."

    We are paying this COI £25,000,000 and they do not intend to make any further statement on this matter. Surely this is not acceptable?

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    1. you can read their excellent reply online.

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    2. In fact the Panel have made a comprehensive report/response which rather puts the 'complaints' by persons unknown into perspective. This report is available for anybody who wants to read it on the States Assembly website. It is a shame that the media reporting on this has not been as impartial as it could have been apart from the Bailiwick Express.

      This is how and why people are misinformed.

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    3. Can someone provide a link to this information, tried using the CoI link to States web site only to be told it was not available (surprise, surprise. As always the JEP uses the heading 'Care inquiry breached abuse victims privacy - watchdog' straight away giving the impression that this is a fact.

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  6. Jersey Evening Post

    THERE is still ‘no credible indication of third-party involvement or criminality’ in connection with the disappearance of Adrian Lynch, the Home Affairs Minister has said.

    Giving an update to the Assembly on the latest information relating to the 20-year-old, who vanished on 5 December after attending a work Christmas party, Deputy Kristina Moore said that the case had ‘caught the attention of every Islander’ and that she wished the former Les Quennevais student would be found to end his parents’ pain.

    As reported by the JEP on Tuesday, £182,000 has been spent on the search for Mr Lynch and the police have spoken to 1,000 people about his disappearance.

    Deputy Moore said that police had carried out ‘all feasible lines of inquiry’ and had taken nearly 250 witness statements and the minister also confirmed that two separate external reviews of the case had taken place and that two officers remained working on the investigation.


    Read more at http://jerseyeveningpost.com/news/2016/05/11/missing-adrian-no-evidence-of-a-crime/#qdGJ2UUJzkcyHhep.99

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  7. Have the police confirmed that these drivers have come forward?

    Further Driver Appeal – Adrian Lynch Search

    At 02:23 on Saturday 5th December a vehicle was seen to drive north past Thistlegrove, the small industrial estate on La Grande Route de St Laurent, just 6 minutes after a person believed to be Adrian had walked south past this point. The make and model of this vehicle is unknown but it is believed to be a high roofed car, possibly dark coloured.

    At 02:34 hours a vehicle believed to be a taxi drove south past this point.

    Police are very keen to identify and speak with the occupants of these vehicles as it’s possible they may have seen Adrian or have some information which may be of relevance to the enquiry, however insignificant that might appear to them to be.

    There are also still a number of other vehicles that passed Thistlegrove between ten to midnight and a quarter to five in the morning that Police are yet to identify and repeat their request for drivers and occupants to make contact.

    The Police can be contacted on 612612 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800555111.

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  8. The Unexplained Disappearance of Adrian Lynch – and the Intimidation of Whistle-Blowers by Jersey’s Data Protection Authorities.

    Part 1-

    A reader above says, 'Sorry to change the subject to something equally important and topical. Statement from The COI:...'

    There is no need to apologise. There is no difference between the two subjects; they're one-and-the-same, namely the increasingly undisguised collapse in the rule of law in the Crown Dependency of Jersey.

    I've now had time to read the report of your Data Commissioner and the appendices to that report.

    It’s yet another extraordinary event in the long and ultra vires conduct by your polity.

    I had to ask myself what on Earth your 'Establishment' imagined they were going to achieve, what advantage they thought they'd gain, by your DPC acting in this way and compiling and publishing such a report? From a strategic and 'PR' perspective it is nothing other than immensely damaging to the standing and position of governance in Jersey. It is, and appears to be, an overt attack by those of your authorities with a culpable history in the Jersey child-abuse scandal, against the public inquiry into that scandal, and an attempt to undermine and damage the work and standing of that public-inquiry. In that sense, it acts as further evidence and confirmation to all objective observers that the Jersey Establishment is still attempting to disguise its intrinsic failure, and displaying, still, an absolute unwillingness to brook any criticism.

    In terms of PR positioning, or more significantly, 'helping' the powers-that-be in London to maintain their defence of the indefensible Jersey system, the actions of your DPC and the report are nothing other than greatly damaging. But surely your establishment and its PR advisers realised that, before proceeding down this path? Presumably, the calculation was made that, although significant obvious damage flows from this action, there must be some kind of 'advantage' gained, which outweighed the damage? In which case, we have to ponder what that 'advantage', at least in the minds of your oligarchs, could be?

    …continued….

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  9. .....The Unexplained Disappearance of Adrian Lynch – and the Intimidation of Whistle-Blowers by Jersey’s Data Protection Authorities.

    Part 2 -

    Only two possible 'advantages' seem obvious; firstly, the report of the DPC can provide raw-material to your local Establishment media, if the Establishment feels it has to gear itself up for a medium-term/long-term local war against the public-inquiry and its findings. Secondly, and I think most obviously, the report and actions of the DPC are another step-increase in the war of the 'climate-of-fear'; another big, unmistakable 'message' as it were, to all witnesses, public-interest disclosers and whistle-blowers, to the effect, 'you might think things like public-inquiries protect you. Think again; these people will be gone soon. And still here, with the unaccountable power to crush-you-all is Big Bad Emma; The Iron Fist of the Oligarchy.'

    I think that second reason, maintaining and even boosting, the climate-of-fear, has to be the main justification of an otherwise mystifyingly self-discrediting step by your Establishment. (The report of the DPC is terminally flawed, incidentally, on many legal grounds. The 10-month delay, for example, which the report's author attempts to glibly skirt around.)

    And turning to the unexplained disappearance of the young man Adrian Lynch, it reeks of another Jersey cover-up. The words and excuses being used to try and defend the Police winding-down of the case, rather than increasing a major missing-person hunt are very telling. This young man vanished, in the middle of the island; a small place, where people just don't 'go missing'. In the case, and it is the case, no body has been found, then rather than claiming 'no reasons for suspicion', the working assumption should be that the disappearance is intrinsically suspicious, and most probably down to foul play, in the absence of any better explanation. And as is clear from the efforts of the parents, and civil-society in Jersey, the 'official-line' simply is not believed.

    The broad community view would appear to be there are strong grounds for suspecting foul-play in the disappearance of this young man, and that the otherwise inexplicable attitude of the police appears to indicate an 'official' cover-up.

    So, what better means of 'reminding' every possible witness, public-interest discloser and whistle-blower who might know something about the disappearance of Adrian, of the power of the Jersey oligarchy to crush them, than a 'timely' Big Scary Official Report from the Data Protection Commissioner which, in effect says, 'We Urinate Over Whistle-Blowers. Remember, We're The Bosses.'

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  10. "This, if correct, is a truly staggering revelation. The Lynch family live in St Mary, on the boarder of St John. What happened to the Parish "community spirit" we are told so much about? The Connetable being the Mother/Father of the Parish? In this case the Connetable/mother of the Parish being Juliette Gallichan. How can it be that NONE of their own elected representatives have contacted Adrian's parent's in order to show, if not political, but practical or moral/emotional support? What does this say about the Parish system? What does this say to the wider community? If your child goes missing don't expect any help/support from us? It could be, in fairness to the elected representatives, that they feel they don't want to intrude on the Lynch family so have resisted contacting them directly."

    The 'Myth' the caring Island. Do we really care? Child Abuse - Young Lads carrying their mate down the road as he is dying and what of their parents shame on them all - and young Adrian Lynch.

    We only care if it lands on our doorstep..

    Not one politician called in on the Lynch family. Not one lodged any questions regarding Adrian's disappearance until Deputy Higgins stepped in. Thank heavens we have Deputy Higgins.

    Do we have young men vanishing every weekend? Oh well, that's a shame, i'm sure he will turn up one day attitude.

    The States of Jersey Police, in my own honest opinion, from what I see don't seem to give a damn about this young man. Im not interested in what they say, and let's be honest about this, not even the biggest idiot living would go along with the hypothermia sketch but its that old saying actions speak louder than words. What the fcuk are they doing? Have the dogs been out every day or every other day searching? How about Game Show Mike Bowron? Walking around town like a pimp in a uniform. Makes me angry.

    Lets look at this and ask what the hell is going on.

    5 months and counting

    2 officers on the case

    Rico

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  11. At 02:23 on Saturday 5th December a vehicle was seen to drive north past Thistlegrove, the small industrial estate on La Grande Route de St Laurent, just 6 minutes after a person believed to be Adrian had walked south past this point. The make and model of this vehicle is unknown but it is believed to be a high roofed car, possibly dark coloured.

    At 02:34 hours a vehicle believed to be a taxi drove south past this point


    Have these two cars come forward. Have the police 100% confirmed this. The reason for asking is obvious. They are right in the slot of Adrian's last sighting. 2:17am walking past Thistle Grove heading south. How hard can it be to get an answer. If not, go public and ask again.

    They say no evidence that pints to foul play.


    "The Phone and Wallet" - these two items are what made me think foul-play from the outset.

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  12. THE SOJP - APRIL 2016

    The Search for Adrian

    It’s been four months since Adrian Lynch went missing on the night of December 4th in 2015, and as police follow up the remaining lines of enquiry, they are offering help for anyone who has not been able to search their outbuildings or who may feel they weren’t able to search thoroughly.

    Detective Chief Inspector Lee Turner, who is leading the investigation into Adrian’s disappearance, has issued an offer of police help for anyone living within a 2 km radius of Carrefour Selous.

    DCI Turner said:

    “It’s very possible that Adrian sought shelter that night, perhaps with the intention of lying down to rest and concealing himself for warmth. A large number of outbuildings (sheds, greenhouses, garages etc.) have been searched by police and partner agencies within the designated zones during the extensive searches, in the weeks after Adrian’s disappearance. Many people have already checked their properties themselves, however, due to whatever reason, such as physical impairment for example, some property owners may not have been able to satisfy themselves completely that they have looked as thoroughly as they would have liked.

    I am asking that anyone who lives within 2 kilometres of Carrefour Selous in any direction, and who has any concern or doubt as to their property to contact the police on 612612 and we will arrange for an officer to meet with you and check on your behalf in due course.

    This offer also applies to any neighbours of unoccupied or derelict sites which they believe may not have been checked. Such properties may already have been searched, but we can verify this against our records, in relation to any concerns.”

    Police can be contacted on 612612


    Why would Adrian be seeking shelter? Why?

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    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    2. Maybe he was trying to hide from someone who was following him. Was a car circling/watching him?

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    3. A person says, 'Maybe he was trying to hide from someone who was following him. Was a car circling/watching him?'

      Yes, that is very obviously one of the strong possibilities which has to be considered in a case like this. If Adrian had died through some accidental misfortune, like being too drunk, or getting hypothermia like the Police claim, then his body would have been found. But his body hasn't been found. Even though we know where he was when last seen, in the middle of the island, and in an area easy to search. The fact his body wasn't found make possibilities of foul play like that suggested by the person at 19:31 kind of the obvious lines of thought, rather than wild imagination.

      I know people find this hard to get their head around (it shouldn't really, when you think about it) but if this was a girl who had gone missing there's a very very obvious assumption which would be the main theory in a case like this. Which is why cop forces up and down the nation keep cases like this open, sometimes for decades. In fact, I forget the names of victim and murderer, but some old guy in the UK was just convicted and jailed for killing a young woman who vanished decades ago. Cases like this don't get 'forgotten about' like the Jersey Police want to. And young men, boys, can be victims of sexual attacks and murders too. If a date-rape drug had been put in Adrian's drink hours earlier, then just like the reader suggested in that comment, the predator could have been circling around, driving back and forth, watching, hoping, Adrian would fall over or get disorientated, or need 'help', before he reached his front door.

      In fact, thinking about this as I write, have the Police made a public plea for people, young men I guess specifically given this case, to come forward if they've ever felt suddenly and surprisingly intoxicated, or as though they've been drugged, of have started acting very strangely at the end of a night out? That line of questioning could bring forward, who knows, a number of young men who might be prompted to think about what happened to them and face the possibility that an attempt was made to drug and date-rape them? And if there are those kind of witnesses, then maybe there'd be a 'common' person linking their experiences? And then you have a suspect. Sure, these are just 'thoughts', but obvious thoughts our Police should be following.

      A Concerned Parent.

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  13. Priceless!
    http://www.bailiwickexpress.com/jsy/news/bergerac-joins-force-again/#.Vzh3FjyCOK0

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  14. Next month Adrian will have been missing for 6 months. Seriously, half a year. If the police believe he is up in the original search area then why arn't they up there searching..

    Do their actions back up their words?

    Again, have the SOJP Extensively searched the North Coast?

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  15. I'm reliably informed, for those who like a puzzle and who like to indulge in the occasional brain-teaser, that today's output of the media in Jersey includes an individual who also features in the background to the island's child-abuse public-inquiry. Perhaps not as a child-abuser, but who is nevertheless identified in the inquiry only by a cipher-number.

    Thinking-caps on.

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    1. Can you give us a clue....

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  16. I'm researching the post-WWII history of tourism in the Channel Islands. I understand one of the problems Jersey's tourism industry faced was the limited size of the island's airport meant the economies of scale delivered to other resorts by the use of jumbo-jest couldn't be achieved, and that only 737's were the largest aircraft that could be accommodated due to runway length. Is that correct?

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    1. ...'only 737's were the largest aircraft that could be accommodated due to runway length. Is that correct?' Yes, I believe that's right. Not 747s, only 737s. But I'm no aircraft expert. However, I can say that it's true Jersey's traditional tourism industry did suffer and decline in those decades.

      Some local family-owned hotel chains lost a lot of custom, which meant their proprietors had to diversify into new fields of business enterprise. Some of them went on to be surprisingly successful.

      Delete
    2. That's interesting. And isn't it the case that modern health and safety standards also had an impact on traditional cuisine? I seem to remember reading something about sausage sellers having difficulties?

      Delete
  17. Day 14619 May 2016

    ​9:00







    11:45




    15:30



    ​States of Jersey Police

    Law Officers' Department

    Jersey Care Leavers Association

    Yes
    Day 14518 May 2016

    ​9:00




    3:30



    ​States of Jersey

    Michael Gradwell

    Yes

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  18. Is Mick Gradwell coming back to report on his interview under caution of suspect 737. About time, if he is.

    Unfortunately I only see the JEP on the web page and it is not at all inspiring.

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  19. No, Mick Gradwell is being brought back to hammer more nails into the Operation Rectangle coffin.

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    1. Then Anonymous at 18:14 needs to give us off-islanders a clue.

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  20. I believe Mick Gradwell has totally mistimed his contribution. After the intervention of Emma Martins the abuse inquiry is likely to be a bit more rigorous in their questioning of those who seek to downplay the levels of past abuse whilst also being critical of those who sought to expose it. Obviously Emma Martins is an example of the relatively soft edge of power being brought to bear. (Not so soft for those on the receiving end of it I admit.) The Inquiry must by now be aware, having experienced it in small measure themselves, that powerful forces from many quarters are intent on denying the full extent of the abuse that happened to children while in States care and worse refuse to take any responsibility for it. The likes of Mr. Gradwell and others like him are nothing better than apologists for a still corrupt regime. I say that as someone who previously had some hope that the States might suck up the criticism of the Inquiry and do the right thing. The Report of the so called "concerns" of Emma Martins are just the initial peg on which to hang some flimsy criticisms which will be rehashed time and again, particularly in the JEP, to rubbish the report of the abuse inquiry. Plus ca change!

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    1. "plus ça change" ........ plus c'est la même chose

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    2. Ah yes, that's an interesting link, left by 10:08. It brings back memories. I don't revisit the blog so often these days; no longer administering, controlling or moderating it reduces my need to visit. But sometimes a re-read is important, and I tweet the occasional link.

      When I wrote that posting http://freespeechoffshore.nl/stuartsyvretblog/the-publics-inquiry-into-the-public-inquiry-starts-here/ and titled it, "The Public's Inquiry Into the Public Inquiry Starts Here", I was thinking in terms of metaphor.

      Not even I thought it would become a reality.

      That we would - in fact - be faced with an actual reality, in which a formal public-inquiry - into this public-inquiry - would be needed.

      But yet - here we are.

      But we must pose the question, is it possible for this present public-inquiry to redeem itself? I'm writing a letter to the CoI, which, I guess, will end up being published - in one way or another - eventually.

      I expect it will be another entry in my ever-expanding dossier of 'I-Told-You-Sos'.

      Stuart Syvret

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  21. I hope that in their final summing up at the COI this week the Jersey Care Leavers Association who have done such a stalwart job representing the victims will be setting the record straight on the lies and misrepresentations that we have seen? I'm thinking mainly of the disgraceful attacks on good people and the truth by people like Mick Gradwell, leaker of untruths during a live abuse investigation, Emma Martin's of Data 'protection' infamy and Barry 'Two different versions of the truth' Faudemer as well as the usual lying Crown Officers and Mr K multiple ID suspects. The JCLA have a chance on the last word. They must take it for history's sake.

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