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Lord Bramall: Former head of the British Army cleared of sex abuse allegations in Operation Midland | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Police have cleared the former chief of the British Army, Lord Bramall, of child sexual offence allegations after nearly a year-long investigation. | Police have cleared the former chief of the British Army, Lord Bramall, of child sexual offence allegations after nearly a year-long investigation. |
In a statement released on Friday, the Metropolitan police said there was insufficient evidence to bring a prosecution against the highly decorated soldier and former chief of the defence staff. | In a statement released on Friday, the Metropolitan police said there was insufficient evidence to bring a prosecution against the highly decorated soldier and former chief of the defence staff. |
The 92-year-old was never arrested and has denied all the allegations since he was interviewed under caution in April 2015 as part of Operation Midland – the police investigation into historical child abuse allegations. | The 92-year-old was never arrested and has denied all the allegations since he was interviewed under caution in April 2015 as part of Operation Midland – the police investigation into historical child abuse allegations. |
Scotland Yard said in statement: “Officers working on Operation Midland have today, Friday 15 January, informed a man in his 90s from Farnham, who was interviewed under caution on 30 April 2015, that he will face no further action. | Scotland Yard said in statement: “Officers working on Operation Midland have today, Friday 15 January, informed a man in his 90s from Farnham, who was interviewed under caution on 30 April 2015, that he will face no further action. |
“Following a thorough investigation officers have concluded there is insufficient evidence to request the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to consider charging the man with any offences.” | “Following a thorough investigation officers have concluded there is insufficient evidence to request the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to consider charging the man with any offences.” |
Speaking to the Times, Lord Bramall, who was head of the armed forces during the Falklands war, said: “I think it’s a terrible thing for someone of my age, with an impeccable record of public service... Only now, very grudgingly, do they say they don’t propose to take any action. | Speaking to the Times, Lord Bramall, who was head of the armed forces during the Falklands war, said: “I think it’s a terrible thing for someone of my age, with an impeccable record of public service... Only now, very grudgingly, do they say they don’t propose to take any action. |
“To have these awful, entirely untrue allegations hanging over one’s head, without the police saying there is not a grain of truth in them, is really awful.” | “To have these awful, entirely untrue allegations hanging over one’s head, without the police saying there is not a grain of truth in them, is really awful.” |
He added: “When [the claims] came out they were so bizarre, grotesque and absurd. I knew there was not one grain of truth in them. I was mystified the police could believe them.” | He added: “When [the claims] came out they were so bizarre, grotesque and absurd. I knew there was not one grain of truth in them. I was mystified the police could believe them.” |
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