Thursday 6 June 2013

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.







53 comments:

  1. If the honourable Sir Philip Bailhache is not a trained cleric, as he purports, then why the heck is he speaking on behalf of the Church in Jersey and talking to the necessary bodies in the UK on the Jersey clerics' behalf. I am sure the clerics in Jersey are perfectly able and adequate to answer and ask their own questions and fight their own corner.

    I find it distasteful in the least to find those being questioned squirming around to try and get out of what, after all, we normal people can only assume is unchristian behaviour. I only assume such as I am not a christian, thankfully. They show themselves up for what they are.

    To the golden age......

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    1. The same question keeps popping up "what would Jesus have done?" This will be getting explored in an up-coming Blog, but in the meantime one would believe he would have been protecting/supporting the poor, the weak, the vulnerable and the victim. Yet here in Jersey we have Senator Bailhache and the hierarchy supporting the person who failed the victim (the Dean) and by association, the abuser.

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  2. As I said on the Bald Truth Jersey, well done for capturing what was really important within a long and - for anyone genuinely putting care and compassion first - pointless meeting.

    Bob Hill was both brave and concise when he destroyed the myth that Senator Bailhache seemed quite happy to be spun that HG was a maker of serial complaints within our sister island of Guernsey.

    When will some people learn from Haut de la Garenne?

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    1. That is one of the most sickening aspects of this case. NOTHING has changed since Haut de la Garenne, the victim is being discredited and those who failed her being supported. Exactly the attitude that enabled decades of abuse and paedophilia to thrive at HDLG and which enabled Jimmy Savile to abuse at will with total impunity for decades. Is there any wonder Jersey is known as "paedos paradise" when victims are still treated in this way?

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  3. Well at least we appear to have one decent, upstanding churchman in Jersey. How refreshing to see in tonight's JEP that the oldest serving Parish Rector in Jersey, Reverend Swindell has broken ranks and spoken out with a great deal of common sense.

    Let us now hope that rather than kow-towing to the 'God' Bailhache others will follow suit and bring a modicum of reason to this sad and sorry saga which was damaging from the onset and has been been furthered by PB himself.

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    1. Credit to Reverend Swindell and now that one of them has shown the courage to speak out others, in the church, might also drum up the courage.

      For moral, and ethical reasons, I don't/won't buy the disgraced Jersey Evening Post but have been told Big Ian will be publishing the article later.

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    2. Reverend Swindell wrote a good letter, however, there will be Clergy who wont want a turn at being Dean or would feel overwhelmed by the role.
      But it is true that the Dean should not be all-powerful and able to basically do as he pleases.

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  4. . In former years, she had made similar accusations in Guernsey and twice in the Diocese of Winchester.

    I took the sentence above from Bob Hills blog where it originally appeared.?

    I know the answer, I know the answer
    The answer is, she was never in Guernsey
    that's my knowledge
    But there is a connection with Guernsey
    and the reason I can't answer you properly
    is because, the locust of that connection wants,
    was caught up in a different period of turmoil
    in HGs life and they would like there
    privacy kept, and again its improper
    for us to say things about other
    peoples private lives.

    So there is a connection with Guernsey but i'm
    and I can't say anymore because otherwise i'll
    breach there confidence, but your right
    technically she wasn't in Guernsey but there is a connection
    between her and Guernsey in terms of the people where?

    From the above who brought the whole Guernsey issue to the fore?
    Rather improper to say things about HGS life.
    I gather HG has a
    CONNECTION with Guernsey:)

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    1. I neither made a complaint in Guernnsey nor in Winchester. HG

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  5. I almost couldn't press play to watch the above video.

    I wish I hadn't. The embarrassment is sickening. HG deserved and is deserving of more.

    She deserved to have her complaint taken and acted on seriously. Her medical condition is secondary to the complaint.



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  6. Are these churches mere social clubs?

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    1. Listening to this heartbreaking video, I can't tell whether The Powers That Be are protecting a social club, a finance centre or a political cabal. Don't they understand they will be seen for exactly what they say?

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    2. They could be protecting all those things, and more, but they certainly aren't protecting the abuse victim. And full credit to Bob Hill for standing HG's ground in front of such a hostile crowd, a man of courage, honesty, compassion and integrity. There weren't many of that calibre at the meeting.

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  7. I assume you will be sending a copy to the Dean of Winchester, so he will be forewarned of potential bias witness reports based on ill founded rumors and an unsympathetic third in line Chief Minister.

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  8. I guess what is also important, is the Church Warden now barred from doing any chaperoning of potentially vulnerable people?

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    1. The churchwarden (alleged abuser) as far as I am aware is still carrying on his church duties (whatever they are). HG, on the other hand, as far as I’m aware is still homeless and penniless on the streets of London.

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    2. The Churchwarden abused her so the Church of England seemingly utterly destroyed her life in Jersey. The Churchwarden is still possibly in position? Can ANYONE force a response to this sexual abuse - itself - from PB? He has, after all, appointed himself spokesperson and meddler-in-chief of Jersey Christianity.

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    3. 'Christianity'?

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  9. Hi VFC.

    I can't understand what's happened to the church, it doesn't seem very christen to me? Its a dieing bread the church goer & they can't stop it. With interest what would of you said the average age was at that meeting. Bet there wasn't many under 50?

    Just put up the Audio of Matthew Price interviewing Bob Hill on the Radio yesterday & I will say quite a balanced interview for a change.

    You & your readers can listen HERE

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  10. The focus on HG medical conditions with talk of love kindness care and attention then moving onto the professional support she gets. re the autism and the psychiatric services to give support. WTF.

    This was a complaint to the Dean re a warden and his conduct. This dissection of HG is distraction from the issue painting her in a light the panel believe gives them the moral high ground.

    HG herself has not disputed her condition she was not the subject of complaint

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  11. I should of said in my comment at 21:36 HG herself was the complainant not the subject of the initial complaint.

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  12. Has the transcript of the proceeding before the magistrate been published?

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  13. Did Mr Bailhache admit to reading transcripts as judging them he felt the authorities did everything they reasonably could.

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  14. technically she wasn't in Guernsey but there is a connection
    between her and Guernsey in terms of the people

    Technically? Dr Ashenden? What does that mean. She was or she wasn't what is the relevance if not to add weight to the letter published in the JEP. (Breach of confidence)Of course.

    Who wrote the letter to the JEP? Is there a link anywhere?

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  15. What was the question about HG in Guernsey, I did not understand? could someone tell me?

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    1. Basically the questioner, and others, claimed that HG made similar abuse allegations in Guernsey and as the video shows, she was not in Guernsey.

      Philip Bailhache and his followers, from the way I see it, are attempting to discredit HG because she has reported abuse elsewhere. It seems that if an abuse victim is abused by more than one person they shouldn't be believed.

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    2. Sadly, vulnerable people and people with behavioural problems are often open to abuse and can be abused repeatedly, which makes their already existing conditions worse and they can be disbelieved or their behaviour used against them and if they report abuse that can be used to make them out to be a troublemaker; or someone who is 'mentally ill' can be told that the abuse is all in their mind, which is terrible, because they are vulnerable and do get abused and do get disbelieved, though less now than in previous decades.
      A lot of disruptive behaviours can stem from abuse that has happened in the past, as is the case with HG.

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  16. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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    1. HG, why don't you set up your own Blog giving a time line of events ? I'm sure there must be some free ones around even if this site is not. I have read everything and do not know what to believe

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    2. Further to my last remark, come to that blogs on this site are free . I'd love to hear your side o f things.

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    3. I did try to do this at one point and such a blog exists, but it is so muddled that I have taken it offline for the moment, I am also worried about getting into trouble for defamation even if I change names as I did, because certain people in Hampshire like getting me captured by police, so I have to be careful.
      I will think about your suggestion and possibly edit and reproduce the old blog.
      HG

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  17. The references to Guernsey are interesting for other reasonas - namely that nobody seems to have explored how any constitutional changes relating to one Bailiwick and the C of E might affect the other. Especially bearing in mind that Guernsey is not one island.
    The parishioners of Torteval were having great difficulty in financing the upkeep of their Parish church a few years ago - don't know what happend - but reducing the number of livings throughout the islands should be looked at as a whole....

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  18. Phil Bailhache should be told he is not the Baillif anymore and he is not the Chief minister either. He is an embarrassment to this Island and himself and should bow out of island affairs before he degrades Jersey any further. My support is with HG and not the church.

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  19. HG.

    I have removed the relevant comments as requsted.

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  20. Thank you. Sorry about that :( HG

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  21. It was a pretty smug well heeled bunch that gathered in Grouville Parish Hall to listen to Sir Philip Bailhache and Canon Gavin Ashenden. It has often been said that the Church of England in the 19th Century was the Tory Party at prayer and so today the "Church of England in Jersey" mirrors the Jersey establishment. It is clear that elite wants to fight a political battle with the Bishop of Winchester to assert the autonomy and independence of the Jersey Church. This is all part of Philip Bailhache's long term and long held plan for independence of the island from the UK, thus avoiding scrutiny and accountability.

    Ultimately, behind the plan is the desire to protect the finance industry that has captured the island economically and politically. We can now see clearly the 2011 Jersey Canons were written with independence for the Jersey Church in mind. Let us hope the Bishop has the courage to fight people who have shown no compassion towards “HG”. For them the Dean is the real victim. Jersey’s elite have learnt nothing from Haut de la Garenne child abuse. Their arrogance knows no bounds.

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  22. The Bishop doesn't appear to be doing anything. He certainly comes across as a weak man, especially since he had to employ a PR firm to reinstate the Dean and threaten HG in order to settle matters down

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  23. I agree with the first paragraph of the comment at 00:04, but not the second. This push towards independence has nothing to do with the finance industry. Finance wants stability - the status quo to remain - not massive constitutional change, and associated risk.

    There is only one underlying issue here, and that is Philip Bailhache trying to exercise and retain power. I don't think he is even remotely interested in safeguarding issues (just look at his form) or the welfare of victims of abuse by church officers. His real issue here is what he sees as an outside authority interfering with what he considers to be an issue internal to Jersey's crown appointees. He fears that a precedent could be set where holders of letters patent are held to account by UK authorities other than the crown, thereby undermining Jersey's feudal and opaque 'self-governance' by people like him.

    As is usual in Jersey when abuse by people in positions of authority occurs, a great deal of time and effort goes into distracting and adding complexity to deflect attention away from the simple underlying issue, together with a large dollop of undermining the victim.

    The reality is this: a vulnerable person was abused by a church officer who was seemingly already known for his inappropriate behaviour; the victim made a complaint; the complaint was not handled in accordance with church rules; the Dean failed in his duty and simply wanted to brush the affair under the carpet. The victim was treated with Jersey's hallmark lack of compassion and almost certainly proper due process by the court: a very heavy broom indeed was used in this case. The Diocese investigated and exposed these failings, and - in accordance with policy - suspended the Dean pending investigation.

    Those are the ineluctable facts. All this crap about Guernsey and how much the visitation will costs and whether Bishop Tim has the canonical authority to do this, that or the other are irrelevant. Did Jesus have authority to overturn the moneylenders' tables on the temple steps? Do any of these people rallying to support the Dean really have even the vaguest notion of what it means to be a Christian? It doesn't seem so. They really don't seem to give a damn about the fate of the victim in all of this. Oh, I'm sure they put a fiver in the church collection every Sunday, before driving home in their Mercedes to the £2 million granite farm house for tea and smugness.

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  24. For the reader asking why comments were removed, this was done after a request from HG.

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  25. Again for the reader pursuing the subject of deleted comments. I agree with much of your comment (not published) but an editorial decision was made, in the best interests of HG.

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  26. which PR firm was employed in this case?

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  27. Luther Pendragon. Top PR firm. Used to threaten HG and reinstate the Dean with the caziest speech. Not very good PR for the money?

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  28. "The churchwarden (alleged abuser) as far as I am aware is still carrying on his church duties (whatever they are). HG, on the other hand, as far as I’m aware is still homeless and penniless on the streets of London."

    Whereas Phil Bailhache, ex-AG, ex-Baliff, next-CM! - concentrates all his efforts, in any area other than, ensuring the abuser is rightly removed and the abuser being treated with the respect.

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  29. Not the streets of London, I say again, But bailache is doing wrong and it may cost him his promotion. Don't worry about me. HG

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  30. There was a time not long ago when we said: Let P Bailhache take enough rope so that without doubt he will hang himself.

    Then recently he seems to have taken too much rope, jumped and landed on his feet.

    But present time seems to be saying: Perfect amount of rope taken for a noose.

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    1. Senator Bailhache has got that much rope so he can (and is) hang the church with him. It was like stepping back 100 years by being at that meeting. To witness how good Christian people can turn against the weakest and most vulnerable while supporting the mighty and powerful again made me question again "is this what Jesus would have done"?

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  31. This is the simple truth, and it bears repeating time and again, for as long as the establishment will repeat the same behaviour. Quoting from the anonymous comment yesterday at 10:25: "As is usual in Jersey when abuse by people in positions of authority occurs, a great deal of time and effort goes into distracting and adding complexity to deflect attention away from the simple underlying issue, together with a large dollop of undermining the victim."

    This is true in the UK cover-ups of VIP and establishment child sex abuse, but never more blatantly and brazenly than what Jersey authorities - led by P. Bailhache - get away with, except for the well-evidenced challenges recorded on these blogs.

    The establishment spin artists do what the troll more crudely attempts to do, spinning any non-establishment abuse victim's plight into a complex morass of murky ambiguity. It then becomes a difficult challenge to address what should be a plainly glaring narrative of right and wrong. Whether it is about the irrelevance of Guernsey to HG's abuse, a would-be feudal overlord's desire to separate Jersey from outside authority, or the pre-authorised London dinner with prawn cocktails during Lenny Harper's excellent HDLG investigation, we must never stop re-establishing and restating the priorities of justice.

    Elle

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  32. I watched that video. An absolute disgrace. But very revealing.

    PB had no answer to the question and started floating cotton wool with the clear implication that HG was nuts, but it would, of course be for people better qualified than himself to sign the cert.

    The creepy priestie tied himself up in knots trying to explain how well he understood mental illness but, snigger snigger, not first hand, you understand. Such an insecure, inadequate and unsympathetic man is quite unstuitable for any religious office other than a penitential one.

    A pair of buffoons, but, of course highly dangerous in the positions they hold and the control and influence they wield.

    You would never know that what is at issue here is the abuse of one individual by another and then by the machinery of state.

    The mental distraction reeks of Stalin and the Gulags. I wonder if Britain realises that it is considered a Gulag and used as such by those super clever Jersey overlords.

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    1. No, you would never know that what is at issue here is the abuse of one individual by another and then by the machinery of state. In fact, without these blogs most might not even know the victim was abused!

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  33. Also posted on Bob Hill's Blog,

    I have got from the JEP the address of the Visitation Panel for written submissions regarding the Dean situation and hope it will help HG if she is not able or willing to talk to them directly. It is:

    The Visitation Panel
    131A Marford Road
    Wheathampstead
    St Albans
    AL4 8NH

    If anyone wants to talk to the Administrator, Dominic Kirkby contact dominic.kirkby@winchester.anglican.org Tel 01962 854050

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