Fresh Claims for Baroness Butler-sloss to Step down from Paedophile Inquiry

Western Morning News
July 12, 2014

http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/Fresh-claims-Baroness-Butler-Sloss-step/story-21455170-detail/story.html

Baroness Butler-Sloss is facing fresh claims to step down from leading the inquiry into the alleged cover-up of establishment child abuse

The Home Office has again been forced to defend the appointment of Westcountry peer Baroness Butler-Sloss to run the inquiry into allegations of an establishment cover-up of child abuse amid claims she refused to go public about a bishop implicated in a scandal.

Lady Butler-Sloss, who lives near Exeter,told a victim of alleged abuse she did not want to include the allegations in a review of how the Church of England dealt with two paedophile priests because she “cared about the Church” and “the press would love a bishop”, according to The Times.

The peer made the remarks in a meeting with Phil Johnson, who was abused by priests when he was a choirboy, during a private meeting in the House of Lords in 2011, the newspaper said.

It puts fresh pressure on the former High Court judge, who has faced calls to step down after reports that her brother Sir Michael Havers tried to prevent ex-MP Geoffrey Dickens airing claims about a diplomat in Parliament in the 1980s.

In a statement, Lady Butler-Sloss insisted that she has “never” put the reputation of an institution ahead of justice for victims.

She said: “Throughout many years of public service I have always striven to be fair and compassionate, mindful of the very real suffering of those who have been victims of crime or other injustice. I have never put the reputation of any institution, including the Church of England above the pursuit of justice for victims.

“That is why I am honoured to be leading this inquiry into whether public bodies and other non-state institutions have done enough to protect children from sexual abuse. I am assembling an independent panel of experts so that we can begin this important work as soon as possible.”

The Home Office again insisted it stands by the crossbench peer’s appointment “unreservedly”.

A spokesman said: “Baroness Butler-Sloss has had a long and distinguished career at the highest levels of this country’s legal system.

“Her work leading the Cleveland child abuse inquiry and as president of the High Court’s Family Division make her the perfect person to lead this important piece of work.

“As the permanent secretary (Mark Sedwill) told the Home Affairs Select Committee this week, the integrity of Baroness Butler-Sloss is beyond reproach and we stand by her appointment unreservedly.”