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Children's Commissioner for Wales backs abuse inquiry Children's Commissioner for Wales backs abuse inquiry
(about 7 hours later)
The Children's Commissioner for Wales has backed calls for a new inquiry into the abuse of children at care homes in North Wales in the 1970s and 80s.The Children's Commissioner for Wales has backed calls for a new inquiry into the abuse of children at care homes in North Wales in the 1970s and 80s.
Keith Towler says he suspects a group of people were protected by each other's power, enabling the abuse to continue.Keith Towler says he suspects a group of people were protected by each other's power, enabling the abuse to continue.
It follows criticism from Steve Messham, one of hundreds who were sexually abused during that period.It follows criticism from Steve Messham, one of hundreds who were sexually abused during that period.
He says he was abused by a leading Thatcher-era Conservative politician.He says he was abused by a leading Thatcher-era Conservative politician.
A Downing Street spokesman said: "Allegations of crimes should be reported to the police and fully investigated.A Downing Street spokesman said: "Allegations of crimes should be reported to the police and fully investigated.
"If someone is concerned that an allegation was reported in the past but not fully investigated, they should raise this with the police or relevant authority so that they can look again at what happened," he added. "If someone is concerned that an allegation was reported in the past but not fully investigated, they should raise this with the police or relevant authority so that they can look again at what happened."
Mr Messham was one of hundreds of children abused in the 1970s and 80s - exploitation brought to light by the Waterhouse Inquiry report in 2000.Mr Messham was one of hundreds of children abused in the 1970s and 80s - exploitation brought to light by the Waterhouse Inquiry report in 2000.
He said: "One particular night that I always recall is when I was basically raped, tied down, and abused by nine different men."He said: "One particular night that I always recall is when I was basically raped, tied down, and abused by nine different men."
Mr Messham says the Waterhouse Inquiry report, which looked into the allegations in North Wales and came out in 2000, uncovered just a fraction of the abuse.Mr Messham says the Waterhouse Inquiry report, which looked into the allegations in North Wales and came out in 2000, uncovered just a fraction of the abuse.
Mr Towler said he would support a fresh inquiry and told BBC Radio 5 Live: "What is interesting, in the last 24 hours or so, is to think of the terms of references that were set by the Waterhouse Inquiry.Mr Towler said he would support a fresh inquiry and told BBC Radio 5 Live: "What is interesting, in the last 24 hours or so, is to think of the terms of references that were set by the Waterhouse Inquiry.
"The fact that we have had someone on camera who was clearly the victim of appalling abuses in Bryn Estyn children's home in the 1970s and 80s who is saying that he wanted to say was outside the terms of references - and people told him that he couldn't say those things... is clearly wrong." "The fact that we have had someone on camera who was clearly the victim of appalling abuses in Bryn Estyn children's home in the 1970s and 80s who is saying that what he wanted to say was outside the terms of references - and people told him that he couldn't say those things... is clearly wrong."
Since the Jimmy Savile sex abuse allegations surfaced, politicians have been raising questions about other historic abuse cases.Since the Jimmy Savile sex abuse allegations surfaced, politicians have been raising questions about other historic abuse cases.
During the 1970s and 1980s almost 40 children's homes in north Wales were the scene of horrific child abuse in which youngsters were raped and abused by the very people who were paid to look after them.During the 1970s and 1980s almost 40 children's homes in north Wales were the scene of horrific child abuse in which youngsters were raped and abused by the very people who were paid to look after them.
Never publishedNever published
In the early 1990s, allegations of the abuse started to surface and in March 1994 Clwyd County Council commissioned an independent inquiry into claims of widespread abuse across north Wales.In the early 1990s, allegations of the abuse started to surface and in March 1994 Clwyd County Council commissioned an independent inquiry into claims of widespread abuse across north Wales.
The inquiry heard evidence from 650 people who had been in care from 1974. It led to big changes in how public authorities such as the police and social services deal with children in care.
But the inquiry's report was never published and the copies were pulped to ensure the local authority was able to maintain its insurance cover.But the inquiry's report was never published and the copies were pulped to ensure the local authority was able to maintain its insurance cover.
In the wake of this, and amid growing public pressure, in 1996 the-then Secretary of State for Wales, William Hague, ordered an inquiry into allegations of hundreds of cases of child abuse in care homes in former county council areas of Clwyd and Gwynedd between 1974 and 1990.In the wake of this, and amid growing public pressure, in 1996 the-then Secretary of State for Wales, William Hague, ordered an inquiry into allegations of hundreds of cases of child abuse in care homes in former county council areas of Clwyd and Gwynedd between 1974 and 1990.
The tribunal, led by Sir Ronald Waterhouse, heard evidence from more than 650 people who had been in care from 1974 and took almost three years to publish its report.The tribunal, led by Sir Ronald Waterhouse, heard evidence from more than 650 people who had been in care from 1974 and took almost three years to publish its report.
Counsel for the inquiry mentioned the existence of a shadowy figure of high public standing, but said that there was no substantial evidence to support the allegations.Counsel for the inquiry mentioned the existence of a shadowy figure of high public standing, but said that there was no substantial evidence to support the allegations.
The Waterhouse Inquiry identified 28 alleged perpetrators but they were never identified in public.The Waterhouse Inquiry identified 28 alleged perpetrators but they were never identified in public.
Mr Towler said: "It's easy for us now to feel really quite suspicious about why those constraints were put on the Waterhouse Inquiry because... for us now in 2012 that would be absolutely unacceptable."Mr Towler said: "It's easy for us now to feel really quite suspicious about why those constraints were put on the Waterhouse Inquiry because... for us now in 2012 that would be absolutely unacceptable."
Asked about suspicions that there had been a cover-up, he said: "The only way that you can clearly put that to bed is to say... that we will conduct that inquiry and we will allow that inquiry to go as far as it needs to go to make sure that the evidence that witnesses and victims want to give is fully heard.Asked about suspicions that there had been a cover-up, he said: "The only way that you can clearly put that to bed is to say... that we will conduct that inquiry and we will allow that inquiry to go as far as it needs to go to make sure that the evidence that witnesses and victims want to give is fully heard.
"Unless you do that, that level of suspicion will always be around this, that there is a cover-up, that there is a containment exercise going on, that we have to protect somebody and nobody should be protected," he added. "Unless you do that, that level of suspicion will always be around this, that there is a cover-up, that there is a containment exercise going on, that we have to protect somebody and nobody should be protected."
Mr Towler said: "Listening to what has been going on in the last 24 or 48 hours leaves me feeling that there are people walking around now who perhaps shouldn't have been, or should have at least answered for their actions in a criminal court."Mr Towler said: "Listening to what has been going on in the last 24 or 48 hours leaves me feeling that there are people walking around now who perhaps shouldn't have been, or should have at least answered for their actions in a criminal court."
An investigation by BBC reporter Angus Stickler in the 1990s revealed allegations of a much wider circle of abuse than that uncovered by the inquiry. An investigation by BBC reporter Angus Stickler in 2000 revealed allegations of a much wider circle of abuse than that uncovered by the inquiry.
He uncovered allegations of widespread physical and sexual abuse of children not just by care system staff, but that children were being lent to paedophiles from all walks of life including businessmen, police, and a senior public figure in a paedophile ring stretching beyond the borders of north Wales, to Chester, London, Brighton and beyond.He uncovered allegations of widespread physical and sexual abuse of children not just by care system staff, but that children were being lent to paedophiles from all walks of life including businessmen, police, and a senior public figure in a paedophile ring stretching beyond the borders of north Wales, to Chester, London, Brighton and beyond.
One of the victims Stickler spoke to in 2000 was Mr Messham, who described some of the abuse he suffered. Now, reporting for BBC Newsnight and the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, he has re-interviewed Mr Messham.One of the victims Stickler spoke to in 2000 was Mr Messham, who described some of the abuse he suffered. Now, reporting for BBC Newsnight and the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, he has re-interviewed Mr Messham.
"In the home it was the standard abuse which was violent and sexual. Outside it was like you were sold, we were taken to the Crest Hotel in Wrexham, mainly on Sunday nights, where they would rent rooms," Mr Messham recalled in this latest interview."In the home it was the standard abuse which was violent and sexual. Outside it was like you were sold, we were taken to the Crest Hotel in Wrexham, mainly on Sunday nights, where they would rent rooms," Mr Messham recalled in this latest interview.
He also stood by his claims then that his abusers included a leading Tory politician of the Thatcher era.He also stood by his claims then that his abusers included a leading Tory politician of the Thatcher era.
The deputy head of the Bryn Estyn home, Peter Howarth, was jailed in 1994 for 10 years for sexually abusing teenage boys. He died in jail.The deputy head of the Bryn Estyn home, Peter Howarth, was jailed in 1994 for 10 years for sexually abusing teenage boys. He died in jail.
Anyone with information into these allegations - or who needs support on the issues raised in this article - can call the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000 or email help@nspcc.org.uk, or call their local police station by dialling 101.Anyone with information into these allegations - or who needs support on the issues raised in this article - can call the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000 or email help@nspcc.org.uk, or call their local police station by dialling 101.