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Racist remarks claims 'false', says Dame Lowell Goddard Racist remarks claims 'false', says Dame Lowell Goddard
(about 1 hour later)
The former head of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse has strenuously denied newspaper allegations of misconduct and racism. The former head of the child sexual abuse inquiry has strenuously denied a newspaper report of allegations of misconduct and racism made against her.
Dame Lowell Goddard is alleged to have said Britain had so many paedophiles "because it has so many Asian men", according to a report in the Times.Dame Lowell Goddard is alleged to have said Britain had so many paedophiles "because it has so many Asian men", according to a report in the Times.
The senior New Zealand judge has now hit back at the claims, calling them "false" and "malicious".The senior New Zealand judge has now hit back at the claims, calling them "false" and "malicious".
Dame Lowell quit as head of the inquiry after 18 months in the role.Dame Lowell quit as head of the inquiry after 18 months in the role.
The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse is investigating the extent to which institutions have failed to protect children from sexual abuse.
The newspaper said that certain "figures" in the Home Office knew about her derogatory language.The newspaper said that certain "figures" in the Home Office knew about her derogatory language.
But a statement from Dame Lowell said: "I confirm my absolute rejection of this attack. I am confident that in New Zealand my known reputation from my work over many years will provide its own refutation of these falsities.But a statement from Dame Lowell said: "I confirm my absolute rejection of this attack. I am confident that in New Zealand my known reputation from my work over many years will provide its own refutation of these falsities.
"I will be making no further statement and will not engage with those conducting this vicious campaign.""I will be making no further statement and will not engage with those conducting this vicious campaign."
Justice Goddard was selected to lead the inquiry into claims of abuse after two previous chairwomen quit. 'Frustration intensified'
In her resignation letter, she said conducting such a widespread inquiry was "not an easy task" but "compounding the many difficulties was its legacy of failure which has been very hard to shake off". Andrew Norfolk, chief investigative reporter at the Times, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that "a number of individuals… at a senior level," who were close to then-Home Secretary Theresa May, had complained to bosses in the Home Office.
The Home Office said last night the independent inquiry was continuing its vital work exposing the failure of public bodies and other organisations to prevent child sexual abuse. But, despite their concerns, no action was taken.
"These people, over many months, were thinking 'what can we do about this? This judge is seriously impacting on the work of the inquiry,'" he said.
"They forwarded those concerns to a place they thought was a fit place for them, the Home Office, and Theresa May had the power to terminate her contract. The frustration intensified as nothing was done."
Peter Saunders, a member of the Victims and Survivors' Consultative Panel, which forms part of the inquiry, said the accusations were not behaviour he "recognised" with Justice Goddard and he worried about the affect the claims would have.
"[The inquiry] has had far too many setbacks, far too many people sniping at it," he told Today. "There are people out there listening to this programme who most definitely want this inquiry to fail.
"It has evolved a lot in the last few weeks. It has turned a big corner and there is a determination."
But Mr Norfolk said: "I know for certain it is not part of any such campaign. I know for certain that the people who have been speaking to me and my colleague only have an interest in ending the deep frustration of people, men and women, who for years, for decades, have been waiting for the institutions that turned a blind eye to their abuse to be held to account.
"I think what really compounds all of this is the sense that an inquiry is set up to oppose a culture of secrecy and cover up has become itself an exemplar of the sins it was supposed to expose."
The three chairwomen
Justice Goddard was selected to lead the inquiry into child abuse in February 2015.
She was given additional powers by the then-Home Secretary Theresa May, which would allow her to compel witnesses to attend and give evidence, and force them to provide documentary evidence.
And along with the statutory powers, a new panel was established.
Her appointment followed two other chairwomen, retired senior judge Lady Elizabeth Butler-Sloss and leading tax lawyer Dame Fiona Woolf, who stepped down from the role within four months of its launch in July 2014.
Lady Butler-Sloss quit over accusations of a "conflict of interest" two days after the inquiry was established as her brother, Sir Michael Havers, was attorney general during the 1980s - a significant time when child abuse reports are alleged to have been covered up.
Dame Fiona was appointed as her successor in September, but by the end of October she had also quit after being accused of having a "close association" with Lord Brittan - the late Conservative peer who had allegations of abuse against him dropped.
Justice Goddard had the longest run of any of the chairs, but in August this year she resigned. She said conducting such a widespread inquiry was "not an easy task" and "compounding the many difficulties was its legacy of failure which has been very hard to shake off".
But it came on the same day the Times reported that Justice Goddard had spent more than 70 days working abroad or on holiday during her time in charge.
Current Home Secretary Amber Rudd said the inquiry would continue "without delay".
Abuse inquiry: How we got here
7 July 2014 - government announces independent inquiry into the way public bodies investigated and handled child sex abuse claims. Baroness Butler-Sloss chosen as head
9 July - Baroness Butler-Sloss faces calls to quit because her late brother, Sir Michael Havers, was attorney general in the 1980s
14 July - she stands down, saying she is "not the right person" for the job
5 September - Lord Mayor of London Fiona Woolf named the new head of the inquiry
11 October - Mrs Woolf discloses she had five dinners with Lord Brittan from 2008-12
22 October - abuse victim launches legal challenge against Mrs Woolf leading the inquiry, amid growing calls for her resignation
31 October - victims' groups tell government officials they are "unanimous" Mrs Woolf should quit. She steps down later that day
4 February 2015 - Justice Lowell Goddard, a serving judge of the High Court of New Zealand, announced as the new head of the inquiry
13 July - Dame Lowell's pay is revealed as more than £480,000 a year
November - inquiry begins hearing directly from victims and survivors
4 August 2016 - Dame Lowell writes to Home Secretary Amber Rudd to resign from her post
14 October The Times reports accusations of racist remarks being made by Dame Lowell when in the job. She denies the claims.