ALLEGATIONS of political interference in the historical child abuse inquiry have been made in a legal document presented to the Royal Court.Suspended police chief Graham Power has allowed a sworn affidavit – a written submission made in January last year of the events leading up to his suspension – to be publicly released.
In it, he makes a series of claims about political involvement in police operations and the build-up to his suspension.
In the document, released last night by Deputy Bob Hill, Mr Power claims that:
• Hostility was shown towards the police from an ‘inner group’ of politicians and civil servants loyal to former Chief Minister Frank Walker.
• He confronted senior government figures over disagreements with their approach to the historical child abuse inquiry.
• He was asked to leave a meeting because he would not be part of plan to remove Senator Stuart Syvret as Health Minister.
• He stepped in to defend former Home Affairs Minister Wendy Kinnard from former Chief Minister Frank Walker, who was behaving in a way which could be seen as ‘bullying’.
Politicians ‘interfered’ in abuse inquiry
Article posted on 11th February, 2010 - 3.25pm