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Jimmy Savile family's 'hurt' over sex abuse claims Jimmy Savile nephew 'devastated' by sex abuse scandal
(about 2 hours later)
The nephew of Jimmy Savile has spoken of his family's "hurt" over the alleged sexual abuse by the late TV presenter. The nephew of Jimmy Savile says the sex abuse scandal surrounding the late TV presenter has been "devastating".
Roger Foster told BBC Radio 5 Live the claims had led to the "total annihilation" of Savile's character. Roger Foster said he had not believed the allegations at first, but so many had surfaced he was now "convinced that the vast majority of them are true".
Police believe Savile could have abused as many as 300 people. "I cannot make sense of it," Mr Foster added. He said he could not understand how his uncle, who did so much charity work, "could have such a dark side to him".
Separately the head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales is trying to have Savile's papal knighthood posthumously removed. Police believe the presenter and DJ could have abused as many as 300 people over a 40-year-period.
Speaking to 5 live's Nicky Campbell, Mr Foster said he now thought of his uncle with "great sadness". Police have launched a criminal investigation into Savile, who died last year aged 84.
"How can a man with so much to offer, have done so much, yet have jeopardised the whole thing by behaving the way that he did? Separately, the head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales is trying to have Savile's papal knighthood removed.
"Ultimately it's led to the total annihilation of his character." Allegations of sexual abuse have continued to mount up since claims were first made public in an ITV documentary at the beginning of October.
"I said at the time of his funeral that he was my friend, my mentor and my uncle - he was very much like a father to me," Mr Foster told BBC News.
"I was horrified when I saw the original programme. As the weeks have gone by, and the various allegations have come out, the number of allegations have been so great that I now believe that the vast majority of them are true."
The scandal had been "totally devastating", said Mr Foster.
"I cannot understand for the life of me how a guy that did so much good in his life - with the work that he did, his charity work, his trusts, the people that he helped - could have such a dark side to him that nobody knew about."
In an earlier interview with 5 live's Nicky Campbell, he said: "These things we knew absolutely nothing at all about until these revelations have come out now."
They had resulted in the "total annihilation" of Savile's character, and he now thought of his uncle with "great sadness", he said.
If Savile was still alive, "knowing his personality, knowing his character, he would defend himself vigorously", Mr Foster said.If Savile was still alive, "knowing his personality, knowing his character, he would defend himself vigorously", Mr Foster said.
"I earnestly wish that he was still alive, because it would clarify the situation. And if he was found to be guilty, I would be the first one in line to condemn him.""I earnestly wish that he was still alive, because it would clarify the situation. And if he was found to be guilty, I would be the first one in line to condemn him."
Police have launched a criminal investigation into Savile, who died last year aged 84. In an earlier statement, Mr Foster said Savile's relatives' "thoughts and prayers are with those who have suffered from every kind of abuse over so many years".
"These things we knew absolutely nothing at all about until these revelations have come out now," Mr Foster said.
"It hurts me as much, hurts our family as much, in a different way but probably also maybe in the same way as it hurts the victims of this abuse.
"It's just so unexpected, so totally, at first, unbelievable - but now it's not unbelievable any more there has been that many, that many similarities up and down the country that it's believable."
In an earlier statement, Mr Foster said: "Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have suffered from every kind of abuse over so many years.
"We offer our deepest sympathy in what must have been a terrible time for all of them.""We offer our deepest sympathy in what must have been a terrible time for all of them."
Mr Foster said he did not know when the allegations against his uncle would end, adding the repercussions of the scandal were "enormous".
"How could anyone live their life doing 'the most good and most evil' at the same time?" he said.
Papal knighthoodPapal knighthood
Separately the head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, the Archbishop of Westminster, the Most Reverend Vincent Nichols, has written to the Vatican to ask if Savile's papal knighthood can be posthumously removed.Separately the head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, the Archbishop of Westminster, the Most Reverend Vincent Nichols, has written to the Vatican to ask if Savile's papal knighthood can be posthumously removed.
There is no established process to remove a papal knighthood posthumously because the honour dies with the recipient.There is no established process to remove a papal knighthood posthumously because the honour dies with the recipient.
A spokesman for Archbishop Nichols said he was making what was "clearly an exceptional request", for Church officials in Rome to investigate the matter, in recognition of the "deep distress" of the late presenter's alleged abuse victims.A spokesman for Archbishop Nichols said he was making what was "clearly an exceptional request", for Church officials in Rome to investigate the matter, in recognition of the "deep distress" of the late presenter's alleged abuse victims.
Savile was made a Knight Commander of St Gregory the Great by Pope John Paul II in 1990 for his charity work.Savile was made a Knight Commander of St Gregory the Great by Pope John Paul II in 1990 for his charity work.
The BBC has announced three inquiries as a result of the Jimmy Savile abuse claims.The BBC has announced three inquiries as a result of the Jimmy Savile abuse claims.
On Monday, former Court of Appeal judge Dame Janet Smith will begin a review into the culture and practices of the corporation during Savile's time there, and will also examine if the BBC's child protection and whistleblowing policies are fit for purpose.On Monday, former Court of Appeal judge Dame Janet Smith will begin a review into the culture and practices of the corporation during Savile's time there, and will also examine if the BBC's child protection and whistleblowing policies are fit for purpose.
An independent inquiry led by former Sky head of news Nick Pollard will also examine whether there were any failings in the BBC's management of a Newsnight investigation about Savile which was not broadcast.An independent inquiry led by former Sky head of news Nick Pollard will also examine whether there were any failings in the BBC's management of a Newsnight investigation about Savile which was not broadcast.