Last night (Mon 15th March 2020) saw the broadcast of the long awaited (four years in the making) documentary "Dark Secrets of a Trillion Dollar Island:Garenne. It was broadcast on BBC4 and can be viewed on iplayer HERE. For those having problems getting on iplayer it can be viewed on YouTube HERE.
The documentary told the story (as best as it could in ninety minutes) of the Child Abuse scandal/cover-up (and much more) that put Jersey on the world stage for all the wrong reasons back in 2008 onwards.
This documentary sought to sift through all the myths and complexities surrounding the abuse, the cover-ups, and tell the story from both sides of the fence. The film (in the opinion of Team Voice) was (rightly) Victim/Survivor focused and, with thanks to people like Survivor/Campaigner and Former Chair of the Jersey Care Leavers Association, Carrie Modral. Survivor Marina Cremin, many other Survivors including the late, and great, sorely missed Dannie Jarmin who appeared in the documentary. The bravery of ALL Survivors shone through in this film which is a tribute to its makers and the Survivors.
We, over the next few weeks, will be interviewing some of the film's participants and indeed we have been granted an interview with its director/producer Camilla Hall early in April.
Today we interviewed/talked with former Senior Investigating Officer of the Jersey Child Abuse police investigation (Operation Rectangle) Lenny Harper (video below). Both, he and I, being participants in the film discussed our opinions of it. We both agree that it is impossible to tell the "The Jersey story" in ninety minutes but this documentary did as good a job as could be done while attempting to be fair to all those involved.
Hopefully the interview/discussion will help viewers understand some of the "stories" given by some of the participants from the perspective of the Senior Investigating Police Officer and long time Anti Child Abuse/Anti Cover-Up campaigner.
My oh my, just how terrible does your 'establishment' look? I watched the film and the most striking and simple fact I took from it was that the first 2 senior police officers in Jersey who wanted a major investigation into child abuse ended up with the whole Jersey power structure lined up against them. That is, with the honorable exception of that politician who first said the system has failed to protect children. I hope your political leadership is much better today, as the impression I was left with, quite aside from those two retired politicians in a state of denial, was that there was still no real repentance by your political system, and only a grudging acknowledgement. The whole horrifying scandal should have been loudly and comprehensively condemned in the very clearest language by your leadership today, including expressly distancing itself from those two retired politicians.
ReplyDeleteHave now watched it twice and I agree with you Neil and with Lenny. Overall it was a good production, and as ye said, the survivors came across with a dignity that underpinned the truth of their testimony.
ReplyDeleteFull marks to you and Rico for your work over the years, but as you pointed out, you had to do it because the local media were, unsurprisingly, falling down on the job. There was an angle there to be gone into more deeply, whether it could be done adequately in a 90 minute film which was attempting to cover the whole issue is another matter. The BBC (at UK level) can now afford to be critical of what happened in Jersey, but you have to notice the absence of criticism of the local media's negative role in the affair.
Fortunately, David Rose hung himself out to dry with his comments on Jimmy Savile.
Warcup and Gradwell got away far too lightly and probably looked credible to a newbie audience.
I had noticed the unfair hanging caption which said Graham Power had been criticised by another police force. Graham's written defence made mincemeat of Moore and Wiltshire and it was terribly unfair to cite the criticism and leave it hanging.
Andrew Lewis got away far too lightly and you'd wonder why. As you pointed out in the interview he was roundly criticised by the Inquiry.
There wasn't time to go into the deficiencies in the Inquiry but it is amazing to see the complacency of the Bailhaches and Perchard in the light of the damning, if limited, findings of the Inquiry.
I enjoyed the interview with Lenny and it's great to see him in good form. It would be good if he wrote the book, or if Leah, assuming she's not completely disillusioned by what happened to her, would write the book she has already done so much work on, and given her understanding of what was going on in Jersey.
Finally, I nearly threw up when I saw the creepy Dean conducting the service. He did himself no favours in the way he handled the HG case. Yuk.
It did strike me that there is scope for a follow up programme pursuing the angles opened up or totally omitted from Garenne. I doubt the BBC would dare do it but today's technology would put this within the reach of a lot of people.
Again full marks to yourself and Rico for taking the initiative and maintaining the pressure, not forgetting Stuart, and to all the others who tangled with the régime in advancing the cause of the victims/survivors and in attempting to bring the baddies to book.
An excellent interview with Lenny Harper. It is always an absolute pleasure to hear from him. The truth just streams out of him.
ReplyDeleteWrite the book Lenny, and Graham. While you still have time, write the book, please.
HI VFC,
ReplyDeleteAnother great interview with Lenny.
Well done to Camilla, Rogan Production and to everyone who gave their time and effort to take part in the documentary. My thoughts on watching it a second time, and I recommend everyone does, is firmly along the lines of Polo's comments above.
Lenny, please please please write the book.
Thank you to all the kind comments and words.
Jill, if you are reading these comments thank you for everything you did. ALL the hard work with the JCLA and being a true champion.
Rico
Thank you so much Rico - it was such a pleasure to work with both you and VFC over these very sad and sorry years. You were both so passionate about the truth, and that is what you gave us. The stoicism you showed was amazing, and unlike some other journalists!! you never put a foot wrong. It leaves all of us who had to deal with the fallout and give support to the survivors with something we will never, ever forget.
DeleteJust to say that some people in that documentary should hang their heads in great shame. They may have money and privilege, but in reality have NOTHING.
The one guy who freaked me out and it wasn't David Rose was the Anthropologist. That idiot started laughing that he leaked an email to David Rose regarding Jar/6 being a piece of coconut. What people might not realize is that this idiot was laughing about all the damage he caused 12yrs after the event. He knew that he helped derail a child abuse investigation and he bloody well laughed. To David Rose of all people. Very very strange
ReplyDeleteTotally agree. What police force would want to send him exhibits to analyse now?
DeleteAs for David Rose...just because some chancers inevitably lied about Jimmy Savile, he finds that justification to call himself ‘a Jimmy Savile sceptic’.
The country’s biggest paedophile, who assaulted disabled children, and you’re sceptical about it, with a wild-eyed look on your face?
Now then, now then, David Rose, you need to give your head a very serious wobble mate.
Well said Rico.
ReplyDeleteI have always admired Jill Gracia’s dignified and thoughtful contributions. As you say, true champion.
As I recall, Jimmy Perchard also said some dreadful things to her didn’t he, and was forced to apologise? In doing so, he couldn’t even get her name right, continually referring to her as Garcia, even when spouting a forced apology. What an inadequate.
Jill is an absolute legend in all this and her praises can't be sung highly enough. She worked tirelessly, alongside Carrie, in the JCLA supporting Survivors and has continued to do so for years.
DeleteJill's son (Neil) was a very good friend of mine and it was devastating when his life came to an end so young. One positive thing that came from this tragedy is that it brought Jill and I together and she has been an integral member of Team Voice since it first went online.
Here is the day that Jimmy Perchard was confronted by my very good friend JILL GRACIA.
When Jimmy met STUART.
DeleteThank you for your kind words also Neil. I always think of how we met through tragic circumstances and it became a friendship which evolved into something much bigger - a joint resolve to expose and get the truth out there. Boy oh boy, so much was done and so very many brave and committed people out there whose lives were destroyed in one way or another. In real terms it is frightening what the Government did to so many people to cover this up. Being a cynic I do not feel this attitude will change, but I have the utmost respect and admiration to all of you. I wish I could list you all, but would be afraid to leave someone out!!
ReplyDeleteOh my. Thank you all for actually getting the victim and survivor voice out there.
ReplyDeleteI cannot believe the level of coverup and corruption shown to protect reputation over the issue of child protection.
Thank you to all the individuals in this film who stood up for the truth.
RIP all victims and survivors and I hope those who are alive find some peace in their lives.
I hope the professionals in the film who have lost everything now get compensation for this.
Having watched the documentary the memorial park is a very good idea.
ReplyDeleteTo all you guys on the documentary. Thank you for your amazingness :-)
ReplyDeleteYou're all so cool.
Excellent work and may all the victims find a voice, recognition and above all, some level of personal peace. My father and his brothers suffered in a Catholic Home and never had the opportunity for justice.
ReplyDeleteThankyou for your bravery, difficult and important work that you do.
Trailer of upcoming interview with (possibly illegally) suspended former police Chief Graham Power QPM.
ReplyDelete"The big boys did it and ran AWAY."
Maybe Warcup and Gradwell were just edited out? Do we know? Several of the good guys were, so who had final editorial control?
ReplyDeleteHow do you know some good guys were edited out and who were they?
DeleteDon't know. But find it very odd that a subject such as this where we must have had half-a-dozen very well known people doing their political best for the victims (not many I appreciate given the huge majority who did nothing) and yet not a dickey bird is seen of them or heard from them during ninety minutes. Perhaps they were asked for an opinion and said thanks but no thanks? Perhaps they gave an opinion and it just wasn't used? You tell me. My only real point is that I think it all would have carried far more weight if the truer, borader picture of how we got to where we are now had been visible. I must admit I can't imagine the likes of Gradwell being willing to be interviewed. But what about the ones who were on the right side? Were they asked? Did they refuse? Mustn't we ask?
DeleteExclusive interview with former Chief Police Officer, Graham Power QPM, HERE.
ReplyDelete