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Probe into leak of Prince Charles statement to Peter Ball abuse inquiry 'Concern' over Prince Charles's abuse inquiry letter
(about 4 hours later)
The chair of an inquiry into child sexual abuse in the Anglican Church is investigating how a statement from the Prince of Wales has been leaked. A lawyer has voiced concern that the Prince of Wales is being treated differently from other witnesses at an investigation into child sexual abuse.
His written statement about the now disgraced sexual predator and ex-bishop Peter Ball, is due to be read to the hearing on Friday. Richard Scorer said there was "surprise and concern" the prince did not have to provide a formal witness statement.
The inquiry into how allegations against former bishop Peter Ball were handled heard a letter from the prince would instead be read out on Friday.
The ex-Bishop of Lewes and Gloucester was jailed in 2015 for sex offences.The ex-Bishop of Lewes and Gloucester was jailed in 2015 for sex offences.
Prof Alexis Jay, chair of the independent inquiry, said the leak was a very serious breach of confidence. Ball, who was Bishop of Lewes, in East Sussex, between 1977 and 1992 and Bishop of Gloucester from 1992 until his resignation the following year, admitted a series of offences between the 1970s and 1990s against 18 teenage boys and young men at a trial in October 2015.
At the start of a series of hearings into how allegations against former bishop Ball were handled, Prof Jay said the leak was perpetrated by "someone with direct access to information in this investigation". He was released from prison in February 2017, having served half his sentence.
She told the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA): "I have already set in motion an investigation to identify the source of this leak and will take firm action to protect the integrity of the inquiry, should the source be identified." The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) is focusing this week on how allegations against Ball were dealt with by the Church of England and other authorities.
Former Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey will also give evidence to the inquiry this week, along with the Reverend Graham Sawyer, who was abused by Ball as a teenager and has waived his right to anonymity. Statement of truth
Counsel to the inquiry Fiona Scolding QC told the first day of a week of hearings focusing on how the Church of England handled allegations against Ball that he had "influential friends, both within and outside the church". Mr Scorer, who represents some of Ball's victims, questioned the status of the prince's evidence, suggesting it might be "less than entirely frank about his personal relationship with Peter Ball".
She said Ball, now 86, and his brother, Michael, another former bishop, were "not shy" about using the Prince of Wales's name to influence others in the church. He said unlike the more usual witness statement, a letter was not verified by a "statement of truth" - regarded as the equivalent of swearing an oath.
Ms Scolding said his work with young people helped land him a number of posts in the church. But the hearing was told that the final line of Prince Charles's letter - making clear that the information was true - was considered by the inquiry to comply with the requirements of a statement of truth.
Ball, who was Bishop of Lewes, in East Sussex, between 1977 and 1992 and Bishop of Gloucester from 1992 until his resignation the following year, admitted a series of offences between the 1970s and 1990s against 18 teenaged boys and young men at a trial in October 2015. Counsel to the inquiry, Fiona Scolding QC, said the prince's lawyers had argued that the inquiry had no power to compel him to submit a statement.
He was released from prison in February 2017, having served half of his sentence. But she said that after discussions, it was agreed that the prince would provide a signed statement that would cover all the topics that needed to be addressed.
Ms Scolding said: "To many people, the actions of the church and the police, in 1992 and subsequently, smacked of a cover-up: that those in high places had acted to hush up the offending, and that the church had been more concerned to restore Peter Ball to ministry than to identify, investigate or manage the needs of victims and survivors. Prof Alexis Jay, who chairs IICSA, announced at the start of the hearing in London that the inquiry would be investigating a leak of Prince Charles's statement after details were reported in the media last week.
"Despite his caution, Peter Ball was not subject to any disciplinary measures by the Church until he was prohibited from ministry for life following his 2015 conviction." She said the leak was "a very serious breach of confidence" perpetrated by "someone with direct access to information in this investigation".
'Power and charm' Ms Scolding told the inquiry that Ball had "influential friends, both within and outside the Church".
Ms Scolding said Ball was not well enough to give evidence, either in person or by video link, but would be submitting two statements to the inquiry. She said Ball, now 86, and his brother, Michael, another former bishop, were "not shy" about using the Prince of Wales's name to influence others in the Church.
She said: "He was a very senior clergyman with enormous spiritual authority. He also had power and charm." She said: "To many people, the actions of the Church and the police, in 1992 and subsequently, smacked of a cover-up: that those in high places had acted to hush up the offending, and that the church had been more concerned to restore Peter Ball to ministry than to identify, investigate or manage the needs of victims and survivors.
His power had been "further enhanced by his cultivation of influential friends, both within and outside the church". "Despite his caution (for an earlier count of gross indecency in 1993), Peter Ball was not subject to any disciplinary measures by the Church until he was prohibited from ministry for life following his 2015 conviction."
She said the inquiry had been provided with details of allegations by 32 individuals relating to an abuse of power by Ball "for the purpose of his sexual gratification". She said Ball was not well enough to give evidence, either in person or by video link, but would be submitting two statements to the inquiry.
"A risk assessment carried out in 2009 identified that Peter Ball could be described as a sexual predator, given the length and scale of his offending." 'Ecclesiastical protection racket'
The inquiry also heard from a clergyman who waived his right to anonymity to give evidence.
The Rev Graham Sawyer, vicar of St James' Church in the diocese of Burnley, said the abuse he suffered at the hands of Ball paled in comparison to his "cruel and sadistic" treatment by Church officials when he spoke out.
He said: "It's an ecclesiastical protection racket, and the attitude is that anyone who seeks to in any way threaten the reputation of the Church as an institution has to be destroyed."
The hearing continues.The hearing continues.