Mark Isherwood
North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has called for the considerations of abuse in North Wales children’s homes to form part of the two independent inquiries regarding allegations about former Members of Parliament and other senior members of society recently announced by the Home Secretary.
Calling for a Welsh Government Statement on the investigation into historic allegations of child abuse in this week’s Business Statement, Mr Isherwood said Wales has a clear role to play in light of allegations that the young victims in North Wales were abused by MPs and other members of high society.
Speaking in the Chamber he said:
“You will be aware that the victims of child abuse in North Wales stated over many years that they were taken away from their children’s home by a police officer and taken to high society parties frequented by MPs and other members of high society, that they were silenced, ridiculed or threatened and that some committed suicide as a consequence.
“You will be aware that when Flintshire County Council’s Senior Internal Audit Manager was instructed to investigate why a middle-ranking officer was shown as the second highest-paid officer on the annual accounts, he was subjected to a personal campaign of denigration, which ended up with him fighting and winning an employment tribunal. That was the officer who collated and submitted documentation to the Waterhouse Tribunal, and Sir Ron Waterhouse told me in person that he believed that documentation had been withheld. These are serious matters.
“Wales has a clear role in this and to my mind, and I hope that others will agree, it is essential that the considerations of the abuse in north Wales form part of these inquiries because of the allegations that those young victims were abused by MPs and other members of high society.”
The Minister for Local Government and Government Business, Lesley Griffiths AM, replied: “It is best to let the Home Office begin its inquiries, and I am sure that Ministers will contribute to them, if appropriate.”
