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Rochdale inquiry: Cyril Smith 'attended alleged victim's wedding' | Rochdale inquiry: Cyril Smith 'attended alleged victim's wedding' |
(35 minutes later) | |
An alleged abuse victim of Cyril Smith told an inquiry how he came face-to-face with the politician at his own wedding. | An alleged abuse victim of Cyril Smith told an inquiry how he came face-to-face with the politician at his own wedding. |
The man said Smith touched his genitals during what he thought was "a medical" at Cambridge House hostel in Rochdale. | The man said Smith touched his genitals during what he thought was "a medical" at Cambridge House hostel in Rochdale. |
One of the wardens led the teenager to a "quiet room" to meet an "important gentleman", the inquiry heard. | One of the wardens led the teenager to a "quiet room" to meet an "important gentleman", the inquiry heard. |
The hearings are examining Smith's alleged abuse of young boys in Rochdale care institutions. | |
The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse was told by a witness that Smith was a guest at his wedding years after he was indecently assaulted by him at the children's hostel. | The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse was told by a witness that Smith was a guest at his wedding years after he was indecently assaulted by him at the children's hostel. |
The politician later helped the couple secure a council house in Rochdale, the inquiry was told. | The politician later helped the couple secure a council house in Rochdale, the inquiry was told. |
Cyril Smith 'a puppet master abuser' | Cyril Smith 'a puppet master abuser' |
MI5 'told of Cyril Smith abuse case lie' | MI5 'told of Cyril Smith abuse case lie' |
Giving evidence anonymously about alleged abuse at the hostel, the man said: "All I knew was I was going to meet a gentleman and I thought I was having a medical." | Giving evidence anonymously about alleged abuse at the hostel, the man said: "All I knew was I was going to meet a gentleman and I thought I was having a medical." |
The witness said Smith told him he wanted to check for nits and if he had been washing himself properly. | The witness said Smith told him he wanted to check for nits and if he had been washing himself properly. |
"So he said, 'Take your pants off', so I took my pants off, my underpants, and my T-shirt and stood there with my clothes off," he said. | "So he said, 'Take your pants off', so I took my pants off, my underpants, and my T-shirt and stood there with my clothes off," he said. |
"He asked me to face the wall. I outstretched my arms and then he started running his hands through my hair. | "He asked me to face the wall. I outstretched my arms and then he started running his hands through my hair. |
"He then started stroking me down the back of my head and along my arms and then he started coming down my body." | "He then started stroking me down the back of my head and along my arms and then he started coming down my body." |
Then Smith allegedly touched the man's genitals, the hearing was told. | Then Smith allegedly touched the man's genitals, the hearing was told. |
Family friend | Family friend |
The alleged victim had only arrived in the care of the hostel two days before, having fallen out with his foster family during the early 1960s, the hearing heard. | The alleged victim had only arrived in the care of the hostel two days before, having fallen out with his foster family during the early 1960s, the hearing heard. |
Years passed and the man did not discuss it with his bride-to-be. | Years passed and the man did not discuss it with his bride-to-be. |
But on their wedding day, he recognised one of the guests as the man who had abused him, the hearing was told. | But on their wedding day, he recognised one of the guests as the man who had abused him, the hearing was told. |
Unbeknown to him, Smith was a family friend of his fiancée. | Unbeknown to him, Smith was a family friend of his fiancée. |
Brian Altman QC asked: "Did that make you angry?" | Brian Altman QC asked: "Did that make you angry?" |
"Yes, but I couldn't say anything," the witness replied. | "Yes, but I couldn't say anything," the witness replied. |
Between 1969 and 1970 police launched an investigation into Smith over sexual abuse claims and the man agreed to give a statement about his experience. | Between 1969 and 1970 police launched an investigation into Smith over sexual abuse claims and the man agreed to give a statement about his experience. |
'Cause problems' | 'Cause problems' |
Referring to the reaction of his in-laws, he said: "It didn't go down too well, they couldn't believe it because they were obviously supporters of Cyril Smith." | Referring to the reaction of his in-laws, he said: "It didn't go down too well, they couldn't believe it because they were obviously supporters of Cyril Smith." |
Smith allegedly then paid the man a visit with an accomplice and asked him to retract his statement. | Smith allegedly then paid the man a visit with an accomplice and asked him to retract his statement. |
The witness said: "He says it is going to cause him a lot of problems and I said, 'No, what has happened to me is the truth'." | The witness said: "He says it is going to cause him a lot of problems and I said, 'No, what has happened to me is the truth'." |
His allegations against Smith were never aired in court after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) decided not to press charges. | His allegations against Smith were never aired in court after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) decided not to press charges. |
The inquiry continues. | The inquiry continues. |
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