The story we have on page one today is one of the most disturbing this newspaper has run and the implications of it are profound.

A small boy was apparently quite sickeningly abused by his father. An innocent remark led to the father being investigated and successfully convicted of other paedophile offences. Now that the years have passed, however, a more mature individual we are calling John has realised exactly what his father allegedly put him through.

That realisation for someone on the threshold of adulthood has been shattering and, quite literally, life-altering.

Without some form of closure the harm continues, which is why John and his family are demanding justice – and believe it is being denied to them.

This is an unusual case and the steps taken with the family and the statement released to this newspaper by the Law Officers indicates that quite clearly.

Equally, when a young boy writes a pencil letter to the prosecutors begging them in detail and on such a subject to take action, then something is awry.

After the latest set-back, John insisted that we interview him (with his parents present) because he wants his story to be told and for the man he accuses of abuse to face prosecution.

It was a harrowing experience for us – and for John’s parents. Details they did not know emerged and this is a burden no young person should have to live with.

The Law Officers’ view is that there is no realistic prospect of conviction and that emerged after two careful reviews of the available information. No one will take issue with that.

Islanders have also to assume that having failed the Crown prosecutors’ code at the evidential stage, the matter also failed to satisfy the public interest stage.

Yet the classic statement on such things holds that there should be a prosecution ‘wherever it appears that the offence or the circumstances of its commission is or are of such a character that a prosecution in respect thereof is required in the public interest’.

This local family believe justice will be served only when a court becomes involved – and are now at their wits’ end about how to get there.