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New Zealand judge Lowell Goddard to lead abuse inquiry | New Zealand judge Lowell Goddard to lead abuse inquiry |
(35 minutes later) | |
New Zealand High Court judge Lowell Goddard has been named as the head of a new inquiry into historical child sex abuse in England and Wales. | New Zealand High Court judge Lowell Goddard has been named as the head of a new inquiry into historical child sex abuse in England and Wales. |
The inquiry will have statutory powers and a new panel, Home Secretary Theresa May told the House of Commons. | The inquiry will have statutory powers and a new panel, Home Secretary Theresa May told the House of Commons. |
Mrs May said she was determined to "expose despicable crimes". | Mrs May said she was determined to "expose despicable crimes". |
Since the original child abuse inquiry was set up last July, two chairwomen have resigned amid concerns over their links with the establishment. | Since the original child abuse inquiry was set up last July, two chairwomen have resigned amid concerns over their links with the establishment. |
Mrs May said Justice Goddard was "as removed as possible from the organisations and institutions that might become the focus of the inquiry". | Mrs May said Justice Goddard was "as removed as possible from the organisations and institutions that might become the focus of the inquiry". |
Peter Saunders, chief executive of the National Association for People Abused in Childhood, said Justice Goddard would "enhance the whole credibility of the inquiry". | Peter Saunders, chief executive of the National Association for People Abused in Childhood, said Justice Goddard would "enhance the whole credibility of the inquiry". |
Justice Goddard, who was appointed to the New Zealand High Court in 1995, said she was "committed to leading a robust and independent inquiry". | Justice Goddard, who was appointed to the New Zealand High Court in 1995, said she was "committed to leading a robust and independent inquiry". |
The Auckland-born judge has previously led an inquiry into police handling of child abuse cases in New Zealand. | The Auckland-born judge has previously led an inquiry into police handling of child abuse cases in New Zealand. |
Analysis | Analysis |
By Clive Coleman, BBC legal correspondent | By Clive Coleman, BBC legal correspondent |
A statutory inquiry established under the Inquiries Act 2005 has considerably more powers than its predecessor. | A statutory inquiry established under the Inquiries Act 2005 has considerably more powers than its predecessor. |
Justice Goddard will be able to compel witnesses to attend and give evidence, and force them to provide documentary evidence. | Justice Goddard will be able to compel witnesses to attend and give evidence, and force them to provide documentary evidence. |
Those powers mean that some witnesses and "core participants" - ie those who may have played a significant role in relation to the matters being examined, have a major interest in those matters, or face explicit criticism from the inquiry - are likely to "lawyer up". | Those powers mean that some witnesses and "core participants" - ie those who may have played a significant role in relation to the matters being examined, have a major interest in those matters, or face explicit criticism from the inquiry - are likely to "lawyer up". |
That can make the process much longer. | That can make the process much longer. |
The inquiry will be looking into serious criminality, so Justice Goddard will have to steer a careful course between a rigorous inquiry and ensuring that future criminal trials are not prejudiced. | The inquiry will be looking into serious criminality, so Justice Goddard will have to steer a careful course between a rigorous inquiry and ensuring that future criminal trials are not prejudiced. |
The original inquiry was sparked by claims of paedophiles operating in Westminster in the 1980s. | The original inquiry was sparked by claims of paedophiles operating in Westminster in the 1980s. |
The inquiry will investigate whether "public bodies and other non-state institutions have taken seriously their duty of care to protect children from sexual abuse in England and Wales". | The inquiry will investigate whether "public bodies and other non-state institutions have taken seriously their duty of care to protect children from sexual abuse in England and Wales". |
'No stone unturned' | 'No stone unturned' |
Mrs May said Justice Lowell was a "highly respected" member of the judiciary and an "outstanding candidate with experience in challenging authority in this field". | Mrs May said Justice Lowell was a "highly respected" member of the judiciary and an "outstanding candidate with experience in challenging authority in this field". |
"We must leave no stone unturned if we are to take this once in a generation opportunity to get to the truth," she said. | "We must leave no stone unturned if we are to take this once in a generation opportunity to get to the truth," she said. |
Justice Goddard will face a "pre-appointment hearing" before the Home Affairs Committee of MPs on 11 February to ensure "further transparency", Mrs May said. | Justice Goddard will face a "pre-appointment hearing" before the Home Affairs Committee of MPs on 11 February to ensure "further transparency", Mrs May said. |
She also said there would be a "co-ordinated national policing response" to "follow up any lead the inquiry uncovers". | She also said there would be a "co-ordinated national policing response" to "follow up any lead the inquiry uncovers". |
And she said the decision to select a new panel was "by no means a criticism of the current panel members". | And she said the decision to select a new panel was "by no means a criticism of the current panel members". |
Justice Goddard said she was "honoured" to lead the inquiry and was aware of the "scale of the undertaking". | Justice Goddard said she was "honoured" to lead the inquiry and was aware of the "scale of the undertaking". |
"The many, many survivors of child sexual abuse, committed over decades, deserve a robust and thorough investigation of the appalling crimes perpetrated upon them," she said. | "The many, many survivors of child sexual abuse, committed over decades, deserve a robust and thorough investigation of the appalling crimes perpetrated upon them," she said. |
Analysis | Analysis |
By Dominic Casciani, BBC home affairs correspondent | By Dominic Casciani, BBC home affairs correspondent |
Last year's catastrophic double failure to launch the abuse inquiry posed serious questions for the home secretary and her team. | Last year's catastrophic double failure to launch the abuse inquiry posed serious questions for the home secretary and her team. |
The new inquiry's chief is a world away - geographically and institutionally - from the characters and parts of the British state that victims insist must come under uncomfortable scrutiny. | The new inquiry's chief is a world away - geographically and institutionally - from the characters and parts of the British state that victims insist must come under uncomfortable scrutiny. |
Justice Goddard's appointment echoes the decision to use a Canadian judge to look into some of the most controversial allegations levelled at the state in Northern Ireland: in both of these cases the government has concluded it could only win the broad support of victims by asking a complete outsider to step in. | Justice Goddard's appointment echoes the decision to use a Canadian judge to look into some of the most controversial allegations levelled at the state in Northern Ireland: in both of these cases the government has concluded it could only win the broad support of victims by asking a complete outsider to step in. |
Theresa May's statement made clear she has personally learned some hard lessons about transparency and trust. | Theresa May's statement made clear she has personally learned some hard lessons about transparency and trust. |
The attention now turns to Justice Goddard who will have to prove that she has the legal skills, stamina and empathy to expose historical abuse - but also the independence to stand her ground amid the clamour. | The attention now turns to Justice Goddard who will have to prove that she has the legal skills, stamina and empathy to expose historical abuse - but also the independence to stand her ground amid the clamour. |
Justice Goddard said the inquiry would act without "fear or favour" and would "hold those responsible to account". | Justice Goddard said the inquiry would act without "fear or favour" and would "hold those responsible to account". |
BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw tweeted: "It's understood Theresa May personally interviewed Lowell Goddard by video-link before deciding to appoint her as #CSAinquiry chair." | BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw tweeted: "It's understood Theresa May personally interviewed Lowell Goddard by video-link before deciding to appoint her as #CSAinquiry chair." |
'Right direction' | 'Right direction' |
Labour MP Simon Danczuk, who called for a statutory inquiry, welcomed the appointment of Justice Goddard and said work should now begin before the general election in May. | Labour MP Simon Danczuk, who called for a statutory inquiry, welcomed the appointment of Justice Goddard and said work should now begin before the general election in May. |
"It is clear that mistakes have been made with this inquiry in the past, but I think today shows that we are moving in the right direction and I hope we can all now focus on the future," he said. | "It is clear that mistakes have been made with this inquiry in the past, but I think today shows that we are moving in the right direction and I hope we can all now focus on the future," he said. |
Baroness Butler-Sloss, Mrs May's first choice as inquiry chairwoman, resigned a week after it was set up. She faced calls to quit because her late brother, Sir Michael Havers, was attorney general in the 1980s. | |
Her replacement, Lord Mayor of London Fiona Woolf, stood down on 31 October amid concerns over her links to former Home Secretary Lord Brittan. | Her replacement, Lord Mayor of London Fiona Woolf, stood down on 31 October amid concerns over her links to former Home Secretary Lord Brittan. |
Abuse inquiry: How we got here | Abuse inquiry: How we got here |
1 July 2014 - MP Simon Danczuk calls on former Home Secretary Leon Brittan to say what he knew about paedophile allegations passed to him in the 1980s | 1 July 2014 - MP Simon Danczuk calls on former Home Secretary Leon Brittan to say what he knew about paedophile allegations passed to him in the 1980s |
7 July - Government announces independent inquiry into the way public bodies investigated and handled child sex abuse claims. Baroness Butler-Sloss chosen as head | 7 July - Government announces independent inquiry into the way public bodies investigated and handled child sex abuse claims. Baroness Butler-Sloss chosen as head |
9 July - Baroness Butler-Sloss faces calls to quit because her late brother, Sir Michael Havers, was attorney general in the 1980s | 9 July - Baroness Butler-Sloss faces calls to quit because her late brother, Sir Michael Havers, was attorney general in the 1980s |
14 July - She stands down, saying she is "not the right person" for the job | 14 July - She stands down, saying she is "not the right person" for the job |
5 September - Lord Mayor of London Fiona Woolf named the new head of the inquiry | 5 September - Lord Mayor of London Fiona Woolf named the new head of the inquiry |
11 October - Mrs Woolf discloses she had five dinners with Lord Brittan from 2008-12 | 11 October - Mrs Woolf discloses she had five dinners with Lord Brittan from 2008-12 |
22 October - Abuse victim launches legal challenge against Mrs Woolf leading the inquiry, amid growing calls for her resignation | 22 October - Abuse victim launches legal challenge against Mrs Woolf leading the inquiry, amid growing calls for her resignation |
31 October - Victims' groups tell government officials they are "unanimous" Mrs Woolf should quit. She steps down later that day | 31 October - Victims' groups tell government officials they are "unanimous" Mrs Woolf should quit. She steps down later that day |
4 February 2015 - Justice Lowell Goddard, a serving judge of the High Court of New Zealand, announced as the new head of the inquiry | 4 February 2015 - Justice Lowell Goddard, a serving judge of the High Court of New Zealand, announced as the new head of the inquiry |
Are you affected by any of the issues in this story? If you are happy to speak to a BBC journalist please email haveyoursay@bbc.co with your contact details. | Are you affected by any of the issues in this story? If you are happy to speak to a BBC journalist please email haveyoursay@bbc.co with your contact details. |
Have your say | Have your say |