Care leavers demand a full apology
Thursday 18th September 2008, 2:29PM BST.
VICTIMS of alleged child abuse at former children’s home Haut de la Garenne have demanded an apology from the States of Jersey. Jersey Care Leavers, an organisation set up by victims for victims, claimed its confidence in the investigation was at a new low.
The organisation was responding to recent comments made by Lenny Harper, the now-retired former head of the investigation. He claimed there was reluctance by the authorities in Jersey to pursue vigorously allegations in court.
JCL has written to Chief Minister Frank Walker asking for ‘An unequivocal apology from the States of Jersey to all care leavers maltreated in any way by employees or agents of children’s homes on the island’.
‘Such an apology is to include an acknowledgement of the hurt caused and damage done to the care leavers and their loved ones. We require recognition by the States of its failure to protect its weakest and most vulnerable.’
The demand comes a little more than a week after Senator Walker claimed the Guernsey Press owed his island an apology for certain aspects of its coverage of the investigation.
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Though they are good steps towards mending broken lives and dreams, apologies do nothing to stop this kind of horrific abuse to continue. Unless firm and strong punishments are applied, things will remain “business as usual”. Even worse, powerful, highly placed perpetrator will get a signal that so long as they apologize, they can keep on destroying children’s lives.
Only those who have suffered this kind of abuse, can tell how painful it can be during your entire life.
I can tell, I’ve been there.
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Of course an apology is not nearly enough!! However, it insenses me that Frank Walker has the audacity to claim an apology from the Guernsey Press for certain aspects of its coverage of the investigation… WHAT ABOUT THE THEN CHILDREN, THE VICTIMS OF THESE HORRIFIC CRIMES??!! At least an apology from the state would be the first step to them actually admitting this happened and accepting responsibility for it, the ultimate goal would be for them to MAKE SURE THE PERPETRATORS ARE PUNISHED AND THAT THIS KIND OF THING COULD NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN.
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