Matthew Steeples suggests a report into allegations against the late Lord Janner provides proof of a cover-up at the highest level
Keith Vaz MP has been strangely quiet of late. This one-time friend and supporter of the late Lord Janner has failed to comment on a report published yesterday that revealed that the paedophile peer should have been prosecuted in 1991, 2002 and 2007.
An independent inquiry by retired High Court judge Sir Richard Henriques has found that the Labour peer, who died in December 2015, escaped prosecution on three occasions in twenty years despite credible evidence he abused children in care numerous occasions.
In his report, Sir Richard slammed the CPS and police officers for failing to pursue Janner at the time and found that officers failed to pass on evidence and underminded his victims. Specifically, he remarked:
“I am satisfied that, in 1991, there was a sufficiency of evidence for a prosecution to be commenced against Janner for offences of indecent assault and buggery”.
“The police investigation was incomplete and inadequate in 1991 and police officers failed to carry out enquiries advised by the CPS”.
“I have concluded that the decision not to charge Janner in 1991 was wrong and that there was enough evidence against Janner, on 4th December 1991, to provide a realistic prospect of conviction”.
Commenting in reply, Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders added:
“The inquiry’s findings that mistakes were made confirms my view that failings in the past by prosecutors and police meant that proceedings were not brought”.
“It is a matter of sincere regret that on three occasions, opportunities to put the allegations against Lord Janner before a jury were not taken”.
“It is important that we understand the steps which led to these decisions not to prosecute, and ensure that no such mistakes can be made again”.
Shame on the establishment and shame on Keith Vaz in particular. May such a cover-up never be allowed to occur again.
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