Child sex abuse inquiry ‘turning into lawyer-fest’

By David Hencke
Sunday Times
June 14, 2015

http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/uk_news/article1568676.ece

The New Zealand judge Justice Lowell Goddard is heading the inquiry Photo by Dan Kitwood

David Hencke Published: 13 June 2015

THE judicial inquiry into child sex abuse is preparing to hire 20 barristers, including 10 QCs, prompting criticism that it is turning into a “gravy train for lawyers”.

The inquiry into historic claims of institutional child sexual exploitation, which is headed by the New Zealand judge Justice Lowell Goddard, is set to employ four times as many lawyers as the Savile inquiry into the Bloody Sunday killings, which cost almost £200m and lasted 12 years.

Exaro, an investigative website, has reported that the judge, who will examine explosive claims of sexual abuse by politicians and celebrities stretching back several decades, has handed the task of hiring 20 lawyers to Ben Emmerson QC, counsel to the inquiry, who is advertising the positions.