LetterstotheEditor
November 16, 2010 – 3:00 pm
From Lenny Harper, former deputy chief, States of Jersey Police.
I WAS somewhat bemused to hear that your Chief Minister has called for an apology from myself and Graham Power.
This is on the same day as you report that two of those on my priority suspect list when I retired are facing court.
I suppose that in the Mad Hatter world in which some Jersey politicians exist it does seem right to apologise for believing the evidence of victims of State child abuse, both during and after the actual physical abuse.
I suppose they think it okay to apologise for refusing to be intimidated by senior politicians and civil servants with their warnings that my stubbornness could bring the government down.
It really is unforgivable to consult with experts in the UK regarding information received about human remains in Haut de la Garenne and to then take their advice and investigate further.
And imagine the nerve of not apologising for having Association of Chief Police Officers in the UK describe our inquiry as a shining example of how such an enquiry should be carried out?
I suppose if I had fabricated a letter used to demolish the credibility of victims then I would have been a good guy and the JEP would have repeated their glowing words about my work that they published after the second excellent HMI report on Graham Power’s watch.
But then again, what do the HMI know? Perhaps I should have taken the victims’ statements and replaced them with summaries of my own which actually made them look to be inventing stories. I could have given these summaries to the AG and not told him they were actually my own work, that the real thing was very different. Now, didn’t I read that somewhere in the Napier Report?
Or, like a former Home Affairs Minister, the one after Wendy Kinnard, I could just have changed my mind with each new piece of evidence.
On reflection, I think that I sleep better having that sort of people criticise me and the victims and ordinary decent people believe that I tried my best for them.
Article posted on 16th November, 2010 - 3.00pm
No need to apologise