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Lord McAlpine breaks silence to deny north Wales child abuse claims Lord McAlpine breaks silence to deny north Wales child abuse claims
(35 minutes later)
Lord McAlpine has issued a strongly worded statement saying that reports linking him to north Wales child abuse allegations are "wholly false and seriously defamatory".Lord McAlpine has issued a strongly worded statement saying that reports linking him to north Wales child abuse allegations are "wholly false and seriously defamatory".
The former Conservative peer publicly broke his silence to deny "mistaken" allegations that have been swirling on the internet in the wake of a Newsnight report last week. The Conservative peer publicly broke his silence to deny "mistaken" allegations that have been swirling on the internet in the wake of a Newsnight report last week.
The man who was party treasurer under Margaret Thatcher said that a "media frenzy" meant he had no choice but to "publicly tackle these slurs and set the record straight" in a statement released to the Press Association on Friday morning, the day after the Guardian reported that new evidence suggested McAlpine was a victim of "mistaken identity".The man who was party treasurer under Margaret Thatcher said that a "media frenzy" meant he had no choice but to "publicly tackle these slurs and set the record straight" in a statement released to the Press Association on Friday morning, the day after the Guardian reported that new evidence suggested McAlpine was a victim of "mistaken identity".
McAlpine, who is now in poor health and lives in Italy, said he would make himself available to meet the chief constable of North Wales, Mark Polin, and Keith Bristow, the director general of the National Crime Agency, who had been asked by the home secretary, Theresa May, to review historic police investigations and inquiries into abuse in north Wales care homes in the 1970s and 1980s. McAlpine, who is now in poor health and lives in Italy, said he would make himself available to meet the chief constable of North Wales police, Mark Polin, and Keith Bristow, the director general of the National Crime Agency, who had been asked by the home secretary, Theresa May, to review historic police investigations and inquiries into abuse in north Wales care homes in the 1970s and 1980s.
The speculation about the peer began last Friday, when Newsnight ran an item re-examining the Welsh care home scandal, which included an interview with Steve Messham, who said he had been taken from the Bryn Estyn care home to a hotel in Wrexham and abused by a prominent Thatcher era Tory – and other men – on several occasions.The speculation about the peer began last Friday, when Newsnight ran an item re-examining the Welsh care home scandal, which included an interview with Steve Messham, who said he had been taken from the Bryn Estyn care home to a hotel in Wrexham and abused by a prominent Thatcher era Tory – and other men – on several occasions.
Newsnight chose not to name the high-profile individual suspected, because, the reporter Angus Stickler said, "there was not enough [information] to name names" – but the report was introduced by Gavin Esler, who said "this man" – meaning Messham – had said "a leading Conservative from the time was one of his abusers". Using a fresh interview with Messham and a historic interview with a second unnamed person from 2000, voiced by an actor, they said the allegations concerned "a leading politician from the Thatcher years".Newsnight chose not to name the high-profile individual suspected, because, the reporter Angus Stickler said, "there was not enough [information] to name names" – but the report was introduced by Gavin Esler, who said "this man" – meaning Messham – had said "a leading Conservative from the time was one of his abusers". Using a fresh interview with Messham and a historic interview with a second unnamed person from 2000, voiced by an actor, they said the allegations concerned "a leading politician from the Thatcher years".
However, rumours about the accused person's identity immediately began to circulate in Westminster, and gain further currency on the internet, where McAlpine's name was repeatedly mentioned. Newspapers picked up on the Newsnight story, and reported Messham's statements, but did not name the politician accused. The names of other Conservative politicians also began circulating on the internet, and on Thursday ITV's Philip Schofield handed David Cameron a list of names that he had gathered after conducting "three minutes' research on the internet".However, rumours about the accused person's identity immediately began to circulate in Westminster, and gain further currency on the internet, where McAlpine's name was repeatedly mentioned. Newspapers picked up on the Newsnight story, and reported Messham's statements, but did not name the politician accused. The names of other Conservative politicians also began circulating on the internet, and on Thursday ITV's Philip Schofield handed David Cameron a list of names that he had gathered after conducting "three minutes' research on the internet".
However, no mainstream media outlets named McAlpine until the Guardian, reviewing Newsnight's investigation, reported that evidence suggested that allegations against him were incorrect. Evidence taken from Messham's witness statement as recorded by the original Waterhouse inquiry into child sexual abuse in the north Wales care homes may have pointed to the late Jimmie McAlpine, who chaired the building firm of the same name, and died in 1991.However, no mainstream media outlets named McAlpine until the Guardian, reviewing Newsnight's investigation, reported that evidence suggested that allegations against him were incorrect. Evidence taken from Messham's witness statement as recorded by the original Waterhouse inquiry into child sexual abuse in the north Wales care homes may have pointed to the late Jimmie McAlpine, who chaired the building firm of the same name, and died in 1991.
Lord (Alistair) McAlpine said he had visited Wrexham only once in his life to make a trip to the local Conservative Association – when he was accompanied by a party official, Steve Newman. He said: "I have never been to the children's home in Wrexham, nor have I ever visited any children's home, reform school or any other institution of a similar nature" and added: "I have never stayed in a hotel in or near Wrexham."Lord (Alistair) McAlpine said he had visited Wrexham only once in his life to make a trip to the local Conservative Association – when he was accompanied by a party official, Steve Newman. He said: "I have never been to the children's home in Wrexham, nor have I ever visited any children's home, reform school or any other institution of a similar nature" and added: "I have never stayed in a hotel in or near Wrexham."
The peer said that he did not believe Messham was "malicious" in pointing the finger at him and said that he believed he was referring to a "terrible period in his life". But, McAlpine said: "If he does think I am the man who abused him all those years ago I can only suggest that he is mistaken and that he has identified the wrong person."The peer said that he did not believe Messham was "malicious" in pointing the finger at him and said that he believed he was referring to a "terrible period in his life". But, McAlpine said: "If he does think I am the man who abused him all those years ago I can only suggest that he is mistaken and that he has identified the wrong person."
More details soon … McAlpine complained that "a subtantial number of people" would have seen him named on the internet, and who having seen broadcasts or read newspapers would have "reasonably inferred that the allegation of guilt in those broadcasts and newspapers attached to me". Insisting that these allegations were "false and seriously defamatory," he added that he feared he could "no longer expect the broadcast and print media to maintain their policy of defaming me only by innuendo".
Given the "media frenzy", Lord McAlpine said he had little alternative but to "publicly tackle these slurs" and "set the record straight". But – in a warning shot to media organisations – he added that he was "by no means giving up my right to sue those who have defamed me in the recent past or who may do so in the future".