The Mail on Sunday and News of the World both published ‘exclusive’ reports over the weekend which challenged the former deputy police chief Lenny Harper’s role in the recent Jersey Police inquiry into Haut de la Garenne. (0672799)

DISCOVERIES are continuing at Haut de la Garenne which undermine the case that there were murders at the former care home.

Last week, Jersey Police discredited the inquiry made by the former deputy police chief, Lenny Harper, when he was in charge of the investigation.

The inquiry continues to attract national newspaper interest with both the Mail on Sunday and News of the World carrying ‘exclusive’ stories on the issue at the weekend. In an interview with the Mail on Sunday, Detective Superintendent Mick Gradwell had revealed the latest discovery.

What Mr Harper had described as ‘shackles’ had been positively identified as a roofing gutter bracket and electric cable pin of a type widely used in Jersey’s granite buildings since the 1950s.

It follows revelations made by the police on Wednesday that what in February had been described as the possible fragments of child’s skull was probably a Victorian coconut shell.

The Mail on Sunday has also obtained a confidential email sent by Mr Harper to Jersey’s chief minister, Frank Walker, the former Home Affairs minister Wendy Kinnard and chief executive Bill Ogley.