Extra 'punishment rooms' fears

Probe ... tents shield search

By STAFF REPORTER
Published: 01 Mar 2008

POLICE tonight said they believe there are four secret underground “punishment rooms” at a former Jersey children’s home where 160 people claim they were abused.
Officers have excavated one bricked up chamber at Haut de la Garenne where former residents have said they were kept in solitary confinement, raped and beaten.

A second chamber, yet to be broken into, is next to it and now detectives believe two more could be connected to that.

Search teams found a child’s skull and remains in a stairwell in the north-west corner of the home last Saturday.

Deputy police chief Lenny Harper, who is leading the investigation, said: “We know there is another chamber to the one we’re working in, we suspect there might be two more running off it.”

The underground chambers have been referred to as “punishment rooms” by victims and in the first cellar forensic teams uncovered two “significant finds” - reportedly shackles and a bath.

Search teams have also found an opening in the ground floor above the first cellar, which victims described as a trap door to the room.

The news comes as Mr Harper gave a “stark” warning to anyone looking to intimidate victims after one was targeted by a former care worker.

He warned anyone considering approaching witnesses or victims that police would deal with it as a “serious criminal offence”.

Source