Jersey Child Abuse Inquiry and The "Health" Department.

On the day YET ANOTHER DAMMING REPORT was published concerning Jersey's "Health" Department and how the island's children are STILL being failed despite the old "lessons have been learnt" sketch.

The independent Committee Of Inquiry held its second preliminary public hearing to hear, among others, argument from the disgraced "Health" Service as to why it should not comply with the Inquiry's protocols and hand over vital evidence/documents.

The Health and Social Service Department have failed to comply with a summons from the Inquiry Team arguing Data Protection issues.  Chairperson Frances Oldham QC ruled against the disgraced Health Minister and ordered the Department to hand over the documents within seven days.

The full transcript of today's hearing will be published on the Inquiry's WEBSITE (hopefully) later tonight. In the meantime, from its website, we reproduce below its latest update after today's hearing.

16 June 2014

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The Independent Jersey Care Inquiry will begin public hearings on Tuesday 22 July. The announcement was made by Frances Oldham QC, the Inquiry's Chair, at a preliminary hearing in St Helier.

The Inquiry is still waiting for documents from the States of Jersey relating to the Redress Scheme, set up to compensate victims of abuse in the care system.

A summons requesting these documents has not been complied with and will be the subject of a further preliminary hearing on Wednesday 2 July.

Mrs Oldham said: "Despite expressions of support from the States, these documents have not been forthcoming. The summons that was served is designed to prevent delays so that the Inquiry can get on with its work."

When oral hearings begin, it's expected the first witnesses will be experts on the care system in Jersey, and will provide evidence on its context and background.

Mrs Oldham has promised a "robust and fearless" investigation of the way the service was run

 on the island, including the abuse of children over many decades.

The Panel, including Prof Sandy Cameron and Alyson Leslie, aim to establish what happened and. They will make recommendations to ensure children are better protected in the future.

The transcript from today's preliminary hearing will be available on the website shortly.

The Inquiry's Legal Team is still taking witness statements. Anyone with experience or information that might be relevant is invited to get in touch.

Jersey/ UK:      0800 735 0100

International:  +44 (0) 1534 828 798

Email: info@jerseycareinquiry.org

Post:  PO Box 551, St Helier, Jersey JE4 8XN