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| Historical child abuse inquiry lawyer resigns | Historical child abuse inquiry lawyer resigns |
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| The second most senior lawyer in the inquiry into child sexual abuse in England and Wales has resigned. | The second most senior lawyer in the inquiry into child sexual abuse in England and Wales has resigned. |
| News of Elizabeth Prochaska's decision to step down came after the lead counsel to the hearings, Ben Emmerson QC, was suspended on Wednesday. | News of Elizabeth Prochaska's decision to step down came after the lead counsel to the hearings, Ben Emmerson QC, was suspended on Wednesday. |
| The inquiry said it had become "very concerned" about aspects of Mr Emmerson's leadership of his team. | The inquiry said it had become "very concerned" about aspects of Mr Emmerson's leadership of his team. |
| The BBC understands Ms Prochaska left her position from 15 September for reasons unconnected with recent events. | |
| She told BBC Newsnight's programme: "I can confirm that after 15 months working on the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, I resigned from my position as Junior Counsel with effect from 15 September 2016. | She told BBC Newsnight's programme: "I can confirm that after 15 months working on the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, I resigned from my position as Junior Counsel with effect from 15 September 2016. |
| "I very much valued the experience of working with the Inquiry and I wish all my former colleagues the best as they continue their work." | "I very much valued the experience of working with the Inquiry and I wish all my former colleagues the best as they continue their work." |
| Her resignation from her role as first junior counsel follows other problems faced by the inquiry, which was originally set up in 2014. | |
| Preliminary hearings began in March at the Royal Courts of Justice in London. | |
| But Prof Alexis Jay, the current chairwoman, is the fourth person to have been appointed to lead the inquiry, following three earlier resignations. | |
| 'Valuable contribution' | |
| Prime Minister Theresa May said the "really important" hearings would go ahead as planned. | |
| Speaking during a visit to Wiltshire, she said: "I set the inquiry up when I was home secretary and the current home secretary has made clear the original terms of reference were the right ones and I think that's important. | |
| "We should always remember why it is that the inquiry was set up in the first place and when those terms of reference were set they were agreed with victims and survivors and it is victims and survivors who are at the heart of this inquiry." | |
| In a statement, the inquiry, thanked Ms Prochaska for her "commitment" and "the valuable contribution that she made to its work". | |
| It also described the recent events as "unsettling, particularly for victims and survivors of child sexual abuse and all those who are engaged with the inquiry's work". | |
| The inquiry added: "It has been said that the inquiry is in crisis. This is simply not the case, and the chair and panel are united in their determination to see this important work through to a conclusion." | |
| The inquiry was set up to examine whether public bodies including the police have failed in their duty to protect children from sexual abuse. It will also examine claims of abuse involving "well-known people". |