Victims of Jimmy Savile call for a single inquiry
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| Savile was a predatory sex offender |
More than
30 separate investigations, inquiries, or other forms of examinations
are currently in process into what Savile did during his decades of
abuse of children and others, who was involved or associated with him
in performance of this abuse and why was there no prosecution of him
during his lifetime. These investigations are being conducted by the
Police, the BBC, numerous Hospital Trusts and other government
departments. It is more than 12 months since 2 reports were published
saying, essentially that "Savile was “a prolific, predatory
sex offender” who could have been prosecuted for offences against
at least three victims while he was alive." The question on
everybody's lips is "Why wasn't he?"
Victims
groups and their advisers and the NSPCC, are concerned that the
number of investigations currently taking place, could in fact, muddy
the waters and between them overlook, or even perhaps ignore, vital
evidence as the examinations seem to drag on apparently without any
prospect of resolution and findings within the foreseeable
future.There are compelling arguments for one umbrella enquiry and
there have been since these allegations were first brought to light.
However, the "authorities" have managed to create a
labyrinthine tangle of inter related and interwoven investigations,
confusing issues, duplicating effort and creating the impression of
duplicity in its workings. It is all too easy with such a complexity
of investigating bodies for major issues and questions to be "kicked
into the long grass".
It is
glaring obvious, that during his lifetime, Savile enjoyed the
protection of many establishment figures, individuals within official
bodies, police, the BBC and many senior NHS staff, which allowed him
to maintain a shroud of secrecy around his activities and keep them
concealed from public examination. This conspiracy of cover up and
silence allowed Savile to perpetuate his evil pursuits for decades
and only after his death did the rumour become firm statements.
It is
therefore disturbing to note the lack of any progress towards
resolution of the questions surrounding Savile and the role of others
in the years of silence. It is as if the people and organisations
responsible for carrying out these enquiries have some reluctance to
reach any conclusision and are content to push the deliberations
further into the future when either economics or time or both
determine that futher investigation is “not in the public interest”,
and the whole matter can be shelved. Perhaps there are even
individual inquiry members or organisations who involved at the time
and would prefer the whole sorry business to go away as quickly as
possible.
There
certainly seems to be an ongoing problem with even commencing the
long delayed (for one reason or another) Historic Child Abuse
Inquiry in Jersey (Channel Islands) which should have commenced
almost 2 years ago and which, if such an enquiry ever takes place,
will consider amongst other things, the links between Savile and the
Haut de la Garenne children's home abuse. Links which the Jersey
“authorities” have always denied but which are now proven with
photographic and testimonial evidence.
| Savile at Haut de la Garenne |
The
observer may be forgiven for coming to the view that there remain
those people in influential positions within Jersey, Wales, Stoke
Mandervile Hospital, the BBC and numerous other places that Savile
contaminated with his odious behaviour, who would prefer that the
whole subject and their part in it, be conveniently placed on the
back burner of scrutiny. The more 1nquiries that there are they may
consider, then the easier it becomes to hide fact amongst the
minutiae of irrelevant detail and if findings are delayed for any
length of time so much the better.
The
victims groups and their advisers are right of course. This subject
is too important to be allowed to decay into a never ending round of
numerous inquiries and investigations, each changing its terms of
reference during the deliberations and thereby extending its life for
another 12 month period.
The need
for one enquiry (and the Jersey investigation) to finally and quickly
get to the truth and expose all wrong doing in this scandal is
overwhelming. The authorities should recognise this need and respond
accordingly.
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