Senator Philip Bailhache Grouville Parish Hall Meeting.

In our PREVIOUS POSTING we gave our opinion on Senator Philip Bailhache's agenda for the meeting he had called at the Grouville Parish Hall and how we believed it was all part of his bigger plan to break ties with the UK. The meeting was apparently called in order to inform churchgoers what the implications are of the Visitation from Bishop John Gladwin concerning the suspension of Jersey's Dean, his subsequent reinstatement, and related constitutional issues.

What we hadn't foreseen was how this meeting could be used as a platform to discredit the abuse victim (HG) particularly in light of recent events surrounding the Haut de la Garenne atrocities and the Jimmy Savile rein of terror where lessons are supposed to have been learnt.

Former 30 year MET Police veteran, Jersey politician, and Human Rights Campaigner, Bob Hill B.E.M, asked Senator Bailhache, at the meeting, a legitimate question (video below) asking "do you think "HG" (victim) was unfairly treated and will you be putting as much effort into ensuring she gets as well looked after as the Dean?" Senator Bailhache appeared stomped by that question, and it was left to Dr. Ashenden to fend it off the best he could. Dr. Ashenden told the crowd "There wouldn't be anybody in the Island's church who would want to do anything but show support and concern and love and understanding" (for HG). But we ask readers WHO in the island's church has spoken out in support of the victim HG? There has been many letters, from churchgoers, in support of the Dean but thus far, as far as we are aware, not one churchgoer has publicly declared their support for the victim. As we have previously reported we have spoken with a number of churchgoers who DO support HG but are too scared to speak up in fear of repercussions from the Jersey church hierarchy. Indeed we have received, as yet unconfirmed, information that repercussions have already taken place against, at least one individual in the church, who DID NOT support the Dean.  

Bob Hill was not going to accept Dr. Ashenden's intervention and pressed Senator Bailhache for an answer where the Senator, in our opinion, further set about discrediting HG. He also believed the question was "not fair" and by the mumblings from the good Christian crowd, it appears, he was not alone in thinking that.

Senator Bailhache made much of HG's so-called "mental illness", her "committing a criminal offence" and so forth. How she was "extremely sensitively and well treated by the Magistrates court" who bound her over to leave the island for 3 years (deported her) where she was left penniless, and homeless, in mainland England.

A churchgoer who had previously written a letter to Jersey's only "news"paper claiming that HG had made similar abuse allegations in Guernsey asked questions about this at the meeting and what transpired (in the video below) was somewhat ironic considering the questioner, and letter writer, talked of "inaccurate statements in the Korris Report."

All in all a number of us were left with the impression, after the meeting, that the good Christian Folk appeared more interested in protecting the Dean, and discrediting the victim, than they did protecting, or supporting, victims of abuse which does the Jersey church no favours at all.

Philip Bailhache Independence/Agenda

In an article written (yesterday 30 May) in Jersey's only "news"paper, the Jersey Evening Post, it is claimed that Senator Philip Bailhache wants to "inform" churchgoers what the implications are of the Visitation from Bishop John Gladwin, or that should be Senator Bailhache's version of what the implications are.

Reproduced below is the article from the Jersey Evening Post and below that is our opinion of what is really taking place here.

Anglicans invited to meeting to discuss crisis in the diocese.

All Anglicans in Jersey are being invited to a meeting next week to discuss a dispute that threatens the Island’s centuries-old link with the Diocese of Winchester.

The meeting on Tuesday has been organised by Senator Sir Philip Bailhache, who is a member of the congregation at Grouville Parish Church.

The former Bailiff has been critical of the Bishop of Winchester, the Right Rev Tim Dakin, since the Bishop removed the powers of the Dean of Jersey in March, following a complaint of sexual misconduct made by a vulnerable young adult against a churchwarden in 2008.

The Dean, the Very Rev Bob Key, has since been reinstated but his seven-week “suspension” has sparked a chain of events that includes a “visitation” by a former Bishop, John Gladwin, that will look at the whole relationship between the island and the Diocese.

Bishop Gladwin is due to visit the Island on Monday 17 June.

Sir Philip said: “The purpose of Tuesday’s meeting is to inform members of the Church of England in Jersey what is happening in relation to the dispute between the Bishop and the Church in Jersey.

“Many church members are not clear what the Visitation is and what it means for the Island. I want to explain what has happened over the last few months as objectively as possible and also an expert speaker will detail what the Visitation will entail in terms of Ecclesiastical law and the terms of reference set out by the Bishop.

“It is not intended to be confrontational but just an opportunity to understand what the implications are. We need to be prepared because I think there is a possibility we could be set on a course where the aspirations of the Bishop are irreconcilable with the wishes of the Church in Jersey.

“This might not be the case but we have little idea of what the Bishop wants – and that remains at the heart of this problem.”

The meeting will take place at 7.30pm at Grouville Parish Hall.(END)

Philip Bailhache Has an Agenda (VFC opinion)

The Senator's agenda is the complete separation of Jersey from the UK. His agenda has been repeatedly exposed, not least, HERE and is not denied by him. He has failed to progress this agenda at national level but he is now seeking to pursue it at Church level and he sees the current issues regarding the role of the Dean as a political opportunity. 

The victim (HG) and even the Dean himself are pawns of no consequence from the Bailhache perspective. His media statement is laden with subtext but is also transparent to those with an eye on the bigger picture. 

He is seeking to turn the current issues into a "rift" between the Church in Jersey and the Church of England. He will attend a meeting packed with his supporters, at Grouville Parish Hall which is a "stronghold" for the Senator, and when he senses the mood is right, will produce from his back pocket (or elsewhere) a draft plan for the establishment of a separate and independent Jersey Church.   Not yet his full objective of an independent Jersey but from his perspective a "foot in the door" from which other parts of his agenda can be developed.  He thinks that we are all too stupid to know what he is up to, and perhaps even Bob Key thinks it is all about his interests and not about what it is really about which is the pursuit of independence by stages and by stealth.

Readers will be aware that the former Police Chief Graham Power QPM, who was illegally suspended while (because?) the Police Force, under his command, was investigating decades of institutional paedophilia/Child Abuse in State run "care" homes wrote a 62,000 word document as an interim defence case against his illegal suspension. Readers will also be aware that this document was leaked to BBC Jersey who have suppressed it despite reporting on the prosecution case against Mr. Power as reported HERE and elsewhere.

Here is a significant extract from that media (BBC) suppressed document.

"Such views are not confined to the older elements of the honorary service. They can be found, albeit in a more developed form, in the senior levels of government and the legal establishment where some notable figures favour an eventual severance of links with the U.K. and would see the ready acceptance of U.K. working practices as running counter to this agenda. I recall that in 2007 I assisted a small working group which included, among others, the Bailiff Sir Philip Bailhache and the Attorney General William Bailhache. The purpose of the group was to prepare a draft contingency plan for complete independence. I submitted papers to the group on the implications for law enforcement, and used some contacts from my previous role to offer suggestions as to who outside of the island, could assist in developing such a plan. I provided contact details of key figures in the Scottish Government and Administration including the Scottish National Party. I recall that some of the advice and contacts I provided were in an email I sent, probably in July 2007. This and other experiences reinforced my understanding that there was a tide flowing against closer association with the U.K, and a strong local agenda to develop working models and solutions within the island."(END)

Jersey is sleepwalking in to a feudal fiefdom dressed up in Senator Bailhache's "concern" for the Island's church and churchgoers.

Dean reinstated Press Release From Diocese of Winchester.

"THE VERY REVEREND ROBERT KEY, the Dean of Jersey, has today apologised for mistakes in the handling of a safeguarding complaint and added his own apology to that of the Bishop of Winchester and Archbishop of Canterbury to the vulnerable person at the heart of this matter.

He has confirmed that he shares the Bishop of Winchester’s and Archbishop of Canterbury’s stated commitment to safeguarding in the Diocese and the wider Church. The Dean was speaking following meetings with the Bishop last week.

The Bishop acknowledges that, although mistakes were made, the Dean believed he was acting in good faith. Following the commitment that the Dean has made, the Bishop has decided that he will issue a new Commission to the Dean with immediate effect. The Bishop and the Dean have also agreed that, in the light of these recent events, there are areas in Jersey Canon Law which would benefit from further review and they are committed to working together as necessary to revise them.

The Dean said: “I regret mistakes that I made in the safeguarding processes and I understand that, upon reflection, it would have been more helpful if I had co-operated more fully with the Korris Review. I now add my own apology to that of the Bishop of Winchester and Archbishop of Canterbury to the vulnerable person at the heart of this matter. I will be cooperating with the Visitation and Investigation announced by the Bishop on 26 March. Together, the Bishop and I are committed to the importance of safeguarding children and vulnerable adults in Jersey and to working to ensure the safeguarding procedures of the Diocese achieve this as part of the whole Church’s mission.”

The Bishop of Winchester, the Right Reverend Tim Dakin, said: “Safeguarding must always be of paramount concern and is a vital part of the Church’s mission. We will now press ahead with the Visitation and Investigation and see them through to their conclusions, as we all have important lessons to learn. At the heart of this matter is safeguarding the vulnerable who have frequently been let down by the Church. The Dean’s apology is a welcome one, and I am glad that he has joined with me in reaffirming our commitment to safeguarding. I am also glad that the Dean has promised his full cooperation with these inquiries. I wish to assure the Dean and the people of Jersey of my prayers as we go forward together.”(END)

So the Dean says sorry and everything is OK?

Open Letter to Bishop of Winchester Tim Dakin.

Most of us are aware of the "letter campaign" from the local church going lobby in support of Bob Key, the Dean of Jersey recently suspended by the Bishop of Winchester Tim Dakin.

The Dean's suspension came about, as regular readers will be aware, after a published Report criticising his failure to act in accordance with "safeguarding procedures."

We first reported on this Here and have kept readers up to date, as best we can, HERE and HERE

The welfare of alleged victim "HG" appears not to be a priority, or even an issue. Now the priority looks to be the restoration of the Dean to office and to resolve potential constitutional problems that are becoming apparent.

At the forefront of this complex puzzle is former Bailiff, and now Senator Philip Bailhache, who looks to have his finger in an awful lot of pies nowadays from Plemont through to the hijacking of Electoral Reform, independence for Jersey, and his own self promotion as Jersey's would-be Foreign Minister to name but a few.

The latest letter (below), sent by the Dean's lobbyists, calls for his reinstatement before Liberation Day (May the 9th) so he can appear in his full regalia and splendour.

Readers will note that part of the lobbyists e-mail (below) mentions an attachment where there is further support for the Dean's reinstatement. This support comes from a friend of the Dean's in Scotland who is a Minister in the Church of Scotland who, some years ago, campaigned against a gay preacher being appointed. 

We have had site of this letter of support but we do not intend to publish it at this time but perhaps the lobbyists might consider doing so?

In response to all this lobbyists' activity, and letter campaign, I have today written my own letter/e-mail to the Bishop of Winchester concerning "HG" and "The Jersey Way" copied to the Lieutenant Governor.

Readers who share my concerns are invited to endorse my e-mail/letter to Bishop Dakin by using it as a template and sending it to bishop.tim@winchester.anglican.org copying in the Lieutenant Governor  governorsoffice@gov.je

Lobbyists' e-mail.

Dear All

If you, like others, wrote to the Bishop I doubt whether you have even had the courtesy of a reply. He seems determined to ignore us, the people of Jersey.

It seems Bob is suspended because he is an obstacle to the Bishop's plans and it has gone on long enough!

We need to contact our government and show them we support them in their efforts to get Bob reinstated at least in time for our Liberation Day celebrations.

It is extremely important that you write a short e-mail to that effect and send it to the following addresses:

Governor : governorsoffice@gov.je
Bailiff :m.birt@gov.je
Chief Minister : i.gorst@gov.je

Thank You

(Name redacted)

P.S. I attach a letter sent to the Bishop by Rev'd. (name redacted) which gives a good perspective on the situation. I have his permission to circulate this to you.(END).

Email/letter from VFC.

Dear Bishop Dakin.

I am contacting you in order to offer my full support for your suspension of Bob Key, the Dean of Jersey, which I see as a neutral act. Further I would like to add my disgust at the letter sent to The Most Rev and Rt Hon the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury by Senator Philip Bailhache on the 26 of March 2013 in which the Senator displayed, what is known as "The Jersey Way." That is to say, in my opinion, he set out to discredit the investigation/report published by the Diocese of Winchester, and thus discrediting, not to mention, "attacking" the alleged Abuse Victim "HG."

You will no doubt be aware that Jersey has an appalling record when it comes to any kind of safeguarding issues and stands accused of covering up Child Abuse for decades.

In 2008 the States of Jersey Police went public with its investigation (operation Rectangle) into decades of institutional Child Abuse and the world's media flocked to the island in their masses and reported on the heinous atrocities committed in one of the Jersey's "care" homes Haut de la Garenne. The evidence uncovered, during this investigation, was nothing less than spine chilling, to include numerous child's remains uncovered, and according to official police reports, bones that were "fresh and fleshed", when they were "burnt and buried." 

There has subsequently been a number of, what has been described as, "show trials" concerning some of the abuse which occurred at the home and some low level suspects were convicted in the island's Royal Court. According to the former Senior Investigating Officer of Operation Rectangle, Lenny Harper, there are still at least 4 "priority suspects" employed by the States of Jersey, in positions of power/authority, some with alarming access to children/vulnerable adults who were never taken to court by the then Attorney General William Bailhache, brother of Philip Bailhache. The Former Police Chief, Graham Power QPM, described the allegations the force were receiving as "State Sponsored Paedophilia."

It was after the word's media left the island that "The Jersey Way" came into play and the island's authorities set about discrediting the Child Abuse Investigation, the Investigators and by implication, the Abuse Victims/Survivors. Exactly what appears to be happening all over again as displayed in Senator Bailhache's letter to The Most Rev and Rt Hon the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury where, in my opinion, he attempts to portray the alleged victim (HG) as "the perpetrator" by writing "it was clearly considered by all concerned that that order was in the best interests both of HG and those she had abused."

This, in my opinion, is a disgusting remark to make and only serves to demonstrate that despite all the abuse Investigations/Reports whether it be Haut de la Garenne, Jimmy Savile, North Wales, Kincora, Magdalene Laundries and so on, "The Jersey Way" still prevails, attack the investigators and victim(s) while supporting the alleged abusers/wrong doers.

I'm aware that a number of Jersey's, so called, "Christians" along with Senator Bailhache, have been lobbying for, and supporting, Bob Key, yet none of the fine people, in the Jersey Church, have offered ANY public support for the most important person in this sorry saga and that is the alleged victim (HG).

This e-mail sets out to offer that support, moreover, it sets out my wish to distance myself from the views of Senator Bailhache and offer full support to your decisive and necessary action in suspending the Dean, as a neutral act, and hope that the visitation of the Right Reverend John Gladwin is able to take place without hindrance from the likes of Senator Bailhache and justice, along with the wellbeing of "HG", is seen as a priority.

Senator Bailhache's stance is doing neither him, nor the church, any favours whatsoever, and, in my opinion, further damages the reputation of Jersey, and by implication, the church's reputation on the international/world stage and is, in no way, a fair representation of anybody I have spoken to.

It should also be said that I have spoken to a number of people from the church, in Jersey, who have told me that they feel there is a bullying campaign going on to support the Dean and those who do support "HG" are in fear of repercussions if they publicly show their support.

My thoughts are with "HG." I leave you with a question that everybody should be asking themselves; "what would Jesus have done, would he, have  supported the poor, homeless, vulnerable, victim, or would he, like Senator Bailhache and others, have  defended those who allegedly wronged her?

Good luck to the Right Reverend John Gladwin with his visitation and good luck to anybody who comes up against "The Jersey Way" and not least good luck to "HG" and hope she is able to recover from her "Jersey Experience."

Name redacted. (VFC)