Teresa May has finally
found a new judge for the government's "independent" child abuse inquiry;
however she had to import one from the other side of the world. Justice Lowell
Goddard, a High Court Judge in New Zealand ,
will be the new chairwoman, the third. There's no doubt that UK Government plc
are dragging their heels and kicking the can down the road as much as they can.
Ms Goddard considers herself at an advantage because she's not British. She
says: "I come with no context in terms of the inquiry itself; certainly no
agendas other than to work hard and get to the bottom of the allegations, and
to find answers for the survivors and government." This has impressed some
pressure groups. Peter Saunders of the National Association for People Abused
in Childhood said that Justice Goddard would enhance the credibility of the
affair. See: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-31134096. I'm curious to know what my
friend Brian Clare thinks of her, see background links below. Ms Goddard may
not be British, but she is still on the Queen's Council, as all barristers have
to be. New Zealand
is a British Commonwealth nation with the same Crown
state as the UK .
This means she has sworn an oath to serve that state and this is still
essentially the state which is investigating itself. I wonder how long it will
be before this one resigns.
See here for
essential background: http://hpanwo-voice.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/still-no-mr-fixit-for-child-abuse.html.
This is one to watch carefully Ben. Thanks for the update.....
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, X. If the govt continue to dither and obstruct I'll be sure to point it out!
ReplyDelete