JERSEY CHILD ABUSE COVER-UP: ANOTHER SNAPSHOT OF WHY YOUR CHILDREN STILL AREN'T SAFE

The (last?) Bald Truth shows just how necessary it is to take the battle to a different arena...

If my experience of giving a first session of evidence to lawyers from the Committee of Inquiry's legal team and events taking place during this week's question time in the States confirmed one key thing for me it really was that my decision to put the Bald Truth blog into cold storage - quite possibly even for good - and focus on opportunities at a wholly different, international level not yet undertaken by anyone really must be the right one. 

Yes, okay I acknowledge the key Jersey political blogs are now far, far bigger and more widely read than they were four or five years ago. But I also believe something new just has to be done to try and help them and justice along. And it now seems the opportunity is mine to try and do this...

But let's take a good, hard look back at the truly shocking facts unveiled in  yesterday's States Sitting with a question put to the Health Minister.

 

Here the man who is currently the best Jersey politician by a country mile, Deputy Mike Higgins was trying once again to get some 'bald truth' out of Jersey's Health Minister. This personage is one Trinity Deputy, Anne Pryke should you be one of the apparent Island majority who have absolutely no idea who this very 'senior politician' in charge of the costliest and most essential department is.

Deputy Higgins was asking Pryke about a child protection case to which I have alluded previously and one which I had subsequently passed on to him upon my leaving the States earlier this year. Indeed, a case which is so shocking that if the mainstream (State) media only reported it (they won't of course - dog poo, too many rocks on the beach and needing to keep their Establishment chums looking good for the election are far more important!) said facts really should have all good parents/professionals rioting out on our streets - let alone finally voting our corrupt Establishment Party out of power.

Not just hearsay - a six hour long colour video!

 

Now I have to be very careful here because having done so much painstaking work with the rightly concerned complainant in the hope of securing justice and accountability I really cannot say all that I would like to: protecting the identity of the children involved being absolutely paramount as readers will understand. Suffice to say that what came out as a consequence of Deputy Higgins' questioning of the Health Minister is simply jaw-dropping even outlined in the sketchiest of fashions. In fact truth be told it is actually terrifying.

You see according to an individual Deputy Higgins described as the Head of Children's Services it can now be reported here that; apparently being presented with a SIX HOUR video - not to mention SELECTED STILLS  - showing a couple of adults choosing to initiate oral sex where a young toddler is not only present but is physically being held so close to 'the action' by the male and in such a fashion as to render the child what most right-minded people (I believe) would surely view as a deliberate prop  or possibly even sexual stimulant does NOT immediately set child protection alarm bells ringing at the top of the Island's Health & Social Services Department!

Can this really be true?

Well, yes I'm afraid it can because though Health Minister Pryke was doing her usual best to waffle, time waste and plead ignorance to avoid giving an answer that might come back to haunt her I can confirm here that Deputy Pryke herself sat through a FOUR HOUR meeting at the Hospital which I had arranged on behalf of the complainant where all of this was spelt out for her in most graphic detail. 

A meeting I should point out where the Minister was not only able to again see said stills and hear first hand of the complainant's and my own concerns - but to which she was also accompanied by two very senior members of her  own Health team very familiar with the details of the case. These being Mr Pointon and Mr Jouault. Hopefully, of course, unless things are even more lax at Health than even I and Deputy Higgins already believe this meeting surely should be officially minuted: and these facts can thus be confirmed? 

One thing is for certain: I am happy to testify to the above wherever necessary. 

For let us be quite clear: this was not a case of a naïve and immature young couple forced by hard economic circumstance to risk initiating intimacy in cramped, one room accommodation. This activity; its manner and location was a matter of evidenced conscious choice. 

The consequence of both Health and Police 'professionals' refusing to admit that they were wrong and thus be held accountable was that highly damaging decisions were subsequently made in Jersey's courts.All I really need to say for now I believe to demonstrate once again that whilst most of the time servers and wannabes masquerading as States Members don't want to know Jersey's children are as vulnerable now as ever they were.

I thus repeat nothing - but NOTHING - has been learnt since Haut de la Garenne. And until professionals, Ministers, Judges, Attorney Generals or whoever who are responsible for such failings are finally held to account nothing - but NOTHING - will ever change. Shoot the messenger once again if you like but the truth of what I say - and what Deputy Higgins reported yesterday - is absolute.

Oh yes...and just in case any reader is still in any doubt on this one: the senior police officer charged with examining a copy of the video had apparently just passed it on to a more junior colleague. A junior colleague who we must also surmise either has judgment as flawed as those ,professionals' up at Health; or who simply just got bored and didn't watch it all the way through to the important bits. You see the police report didn't think what was revealed was a child protection concern either....

Could you make it up? Probably not. But this I'm afraid is Jersey in the 21st Century.

Keep the Faith 

As for me - having already given several hours of evidence on a wide variety of material I have a second session of evidence to give the Committee of Inquiry very soon. Then, unless the Birts and Bailhaches of this world manipulate things to somehow prevent it, I have further promised that I am happy - and indeed wish - to then give my evidence and be questioned on all and any of it in public.

But once this is completed I have no shame in saying I really do have to finally take a step back to pursue the opportunities arising to change things via routes and mediums not yet tried. The battle will go on as before - just on a different battlefield so to speak. I'm actually really looking forward to it no matter where its course may take me!

Finally, I thus wish all of those wronged and abused - and likewise those who have bravely fought so hard for them - strength and the very best of luck. Remember: if you are reading this and you don't do justice - in Neo-Feudal Jersey 'justice' will certainly do you....

Take care

Trevor

 

THE BAILIFF: A ROLE SYNONYMOUS WITH THE CORRUPTION OF ‘THE JERSEY WAY’

It really should come as little surprise to learn that ‘Sir’ Philip Bailhache has awoken from his political slumber following the debacle of his sabotaging of the reform referendum to now try to do the same with the latest moves to put an end to the non-ECHR compliant anachronism of the role of Bailiff. Bailhache’s whole career after all – through both his time as Attorney General, Bailiff and now as a Senator has, in my opinion, been marked by his utter contempt for justice and democracy.

Like his brother William his name is now synonymous to an ever-creasing number of people with child protection failures and the application of ‘law’ only according to who a person is. Indeed, at a time when generations of Establishment cronyism and corruption to ensure our Island was run as a private club to benefit the rich and powerful at the expense of the wider community is finally in sight of its Endgame simply due to the Party having run out of credible ‘big hitters’ to run the show Bailhache is the last desperate throw of the dice as I observed back in 2011.

Yes the political Left has failed over these long years to put aside what have generally been inconsequential differences of political priority to put together a strategy to outflank the endemic corruption of the ‘Jersey Way’. Just as the wider community who have become second class citizens under the ‘Jersey Way’ and its appeasement of Finance at all costs have failed to rise above the culture of fear; the apathy of moans and non-political participation to do the same. 

Yet the reality is the Establishment Party is finally facing its first glimpses of its nemesis because of things even its corruption and bullying cannot control: time and the reality that in a shrinking media world the anachronisms which have helped maintain its power can no longer be talked away with smarm and a dry sherry.

So now we see The Man Who Would Be King – surely King Philip the First and Last - desperately tilting at windmills to sustain the ‘Jersey Way’ and all it allows a little longer by attempting to defend the indefensible position of the Bailiff. A role let us not forget that has absolutely no mandate from the public. A role that allows an unelected judge to control what those who have faced and won election to the States Chamber via the public can say or put forward as policy proposals.

Hells bells - a role that allows these unelected judges – and as the recent past as shown us so dramatically not even ones who uphold justice for all as per their Oath – to strut about in ridiculous red cloak and gilded bog chains as the Island’s ‘First Citizen’ assuming the position afforded some kind of President!

And yet Philip Bailhache wants to keep the anachronism in place. Of course his aforesaid brother, William has already been announced as the next Bailiff - even before the vote set for later this month! But the key reasons why really do not any longer even need to be spelt out. Its removal will be the final cutting away of the critical first leg of the three-legged Establishment Party stool upon which the fat, bloated backside of the ‘Jersey Way’ squats. Once gone the final and long-overdue fall to earth will follow as inevitably as night-time follows day.

Yet to distract from this Philip Bailhache instead waffles via the State media about the importance of maintaining ‘tradition’! Really, Sir Philip? Leaking through the heady aroma of a nice Chateau-Neuf-du-Pape in the luxury of the Atlantic Hotel perhaps do not even you detect just the faintest whiff of sickening hypocrisy in the air? Perhaps then I should give you a little clue: Jersey's link to the Diocese of Winchester. Wasn’t that built around 500 years of ‘tradition’ – yet you threw it away without a thought in your desperation to dodge the holding to account of yet another member of the Establishment Party – the Dean - who had also failed to act on abuse.

Really, Sir Philip have you learnt nothing in your overbearing arrogance since as Attorney General you allowed the convicted paedophile Roger Holland to remain in the Honorary Police setting in motion a reign of abuse on young girls?

Have you learnt nothing since - as Bailiff - you illegally banned an elected Member of the States, former Senator Stuart Syvret from taking up his seat in the States for six months?

Have you learnt nothing since as Bailiff and Chairman of Victoria College you happily allowed a Vice-Principle – John Lyndon Le Breton - with a proven history of disregarding evidence against yet another predatory paedophile, Andrew Jervis-Dykes to be rewarded with a job as a Jurat ‘administering justice’ in your own Royal Court?

Indeed, have you learnt nothing since your grotesque and disgusting Liberation Day speech where you claimed global media reporting was the ‘real scandal’ above the appalling suffering of the victims of Haut de la Garenne which your generation of power holders had allowed to come about?

No, Sir Philip, quite clearly you have not. Or perhaps the truth is that you simply revel in all of this because all that matters is trying to prop up the ‘Jersey Way’ and ensure the Establishment Party hangs on to power a few more years no matter what? Either way the bottom line is that although I believe the craven deference afforded you by so many of the poodles currently passing themselves off as politicians will ensure you win the vote on the Constable of St. Helier’s re-working of Shona Pitman’s proposition to replace the Bailiff ultimately you will fail.

Indeed, if I may paraphrase a favourite rock song ‘This isn’t the end – but at least we can see it from here’. Justice eventually comes to all. Even in the tiny Neo-Feudal State of Establishment Jersey. Sleep well…

Keep the Faith

JERSEY CHILD ABUSE COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY: THE IMPORTANCE OF GIVING EVIDENCE

The official launch of the Committee of Inquiry into the State cover up of decades of institutional child abuse is now just over a week away. Many abuse survivors have often thought that we would never, ever get to see this finally come about. Understandably so, given the rabid opposition orchestrated by those who desperately wanted both the true extent of the victims’ suffering; and the betrayals of those who let it happen and should have brought the perpetrators to justice years ago swept under the carpet in best ‘Jersey Way’ fashion to protect our image as an ‘Off Shore centre’. 

Survivors/victims have not only been dismissed and even simply deliberately ignored over the years many have been bullied; they have been humiliated and insulted. Some have even been threatened with legal action to try and intimidate them into silence. As one of the tiny handful of politicians who actually fought for the establishment of the Committee of Inquiry way back in 2008 I thus really cannot stress highly enough just how crucial it is that anyone who has evidence of any kind comes forward now and presents this to the Committee if it at all possible. 

I know only too well from the large number of survivors I have spoken to that this will be terribly painful for many… 

Perhaps it will even be genuinely impossible for a number. Indeed, just listening to some of the victims’ experiences made me feel physically sick on occasions. But what all of us who do not go along with the ‘Jersey Way’ ethos of the likes of the Bailhache brothers – two arrogant and utterly disgraced Attorney Generals and ‘judges’ whose names are now shamefully synonymous with the betrayal of both child abuse victims and justice alike – must keep in mind is this. 

No matter how painful; no matter what the intimidation or the cost all who can manage it simply must endeavour to place all that we know ‘on the record’ come the inquiry beginning on April 3rd because the alternative is surely even worse. Can we be sure that the Committee will act upon the evidence they are given as a truly independent body should do? No. We cannot. Yet what we can do - and do beyond any shadow of a doubt – is ensure that all of the facts finally do end up on the public record for posterity. 

By doing so we thus may just ensure that this type of sickening cover-up by the Island’s Establishment cannot happen so easily again; nor perpetrators get away with it so easily. 

After all, Jersey won’t always have a ‘justice’ system as corrupt and utterly warped by power and greed as the one allowed to ferment under Philip Bailhache and the equally contemptuous of Jersey’s obligations to comply with the European Convention on Human Rights, Michael Birt. Just as one day the UK finally won’t have weak individuals like recent ‘Justice Ministers such as McNally and Hughes; or of course the Queen’s Lieutenant-Governor for the Island who equally know what is going on but keep their mouths shut for fear of damaging the murky Jersey tax links with the City of London. Truth will always out in the end no matter how long it takes. 

But should you be one of those who genuinely doubt that presenting your evidence is worthwhile or will achieve anything positive – perhaps when set against the pain the process may bring about - please just consider the likely consequences if you do not. For in such a scenario the likelihood is that the lies and false picture of what took place at Haut de la Garenne and so many other places painted by the Establishment and their lackey media mouthpieces like the Jersey Evening Post will over time become accepted ‘fact’. 

Just as Dr. Goebbels stated: if you keep repeating a lie long enough… 

Not only will both the true extent of the suffering of the victims and the complicity of the politicians, civil servants, police and media who made it all possible be airbrushed out of history – the same Establishment and media fabrications trashing the hard work of the brave police officers, Graham Power and Lenny Harper, who finally did act to do something about it all will also become historical ‘fact’. 

This should be something that not a single soul who cares about justice and putting an end to ‘the Jersey Way’ could even contemplate as letting happen. And that is why all who can should give their evidence and give it proudly. 

Indeed, as the politician who led the investigation into the absolute fabrication of what really happened within the financial managing of Operation Rectangle by Power and Harper I know as well as anyone how the Jersey mainstream media – not just the Jersey Evening Post but Channel and the local BBC - sold the public a work of fiction in conjunction with Establishment politicians that would have done Stephen King proud. 

For example, without the evidence secured from witnesses in that Scrutiny Review we would never know such important and revealing facts such as… 

Far from Harper and Power ‘wasting’ 7.5 million pounds as claimed by the State media and some oddly obsessed Establishment politicians the duo did not even spend such a figure at all. The majority of the money actually was spent by their successors Warcop and Gradwell who did not even have a major crime scene to maintain. 

We would never know the truth that, try as politicians such as Ben Shenton, Jim Perchard and Sean Power did to smear the name of Lenny Harper the only individual leaking information to the media during a live child abuse investigation was actually Mick Gradwell – the man the JEP tried to spin to people as some kind of whistle-blowing hero! Yes, one of the very men brought in by the Establishment to trash and bury the whole investigation! 

These are just two hugely revealing facts amongst a great many that were dragged out into the light to counter the Establishment/State media lies only by people giving evidence to my panel… 

By now speaking to the Committee of Inquiry survivors and other witnesses alike can achieve the same – only even more so! Perhaps even setting in motion moves that will finally bring some of those protected under the ‘justice’ of the regimes of Bailhache and co to belated justice. So I repeat: let the true facts be recorded for future generations. Because if we do not we can be quite certain it will only make the events surrounding Haut de la Garenne all the more likely to happen again. 

Keep the Faith

THE DUAL ROLE OF THE BAILIFF FARCE - STATES PRESIDENT BANS STATEMENT ON THE CHIEF JUDGE I.E. HIMSELF!

Democracy and justice in Jersey working as well as ever...

I publish below the personal statement set to be read by Deputy Shona Pitman on behalf of us both within the States Sitting on Tuesday the 16th April 2013. It complies with Standing Orders in every way. Indeed it relates matters entirely linked to our personal case - highlighting as it does the appalling abuse of the 'justice' system that we have suffered. Even the names of those who have caused this travesty were deliberately omitted for the statement.

 

Of course, though all facts outlined relate to our personal case clearly the unchecked abuse and failings in what is passed off as 'justice' in Jersey obviously cast light on deeply disturbing matters that will impact on anyone else - particularly of 'peasant stock' -daring to stand up against the bullying, elitism and abuse of position on which Jersey's Establishment has been constructed and survived over all these decades. Inconvenient for some this may be, we accept. But it is wholly irrelevant.

 

Yet regardless of this full compliance Jersey's Bailiff Sir Michael Birt banned us from carrying out our right - enshrined in Standing orders - as elected representatives of the people.  He manages to interpret Standing Order 16 (2) in a way that is the equivilent of transforming black into white - or perhaps in this case case white into black.

It is a farce. It is embarrassing. It is yet another sickening abuse of democracy and justice. Of course, we know that the Jersey Evening Pravda and its lawyers are working desperately to suppress the truth of the complete and utter failure of the court case from which they seek to bebefit  from to comply with ECHR Article 6. Indeed, it is even easy to understand their desperartion if not their lack of morals in doing so: they had convenienetly been allowed a Jurat who was the 'mate' of a compmany director to sit on the case!

But should we not be able to expect more from the Pressident of the island's government than using his position to try and keep these facts from the public? How unfortunate it is that the person ultimately responsible for allowing the appalling abuse of an inpossibly conflicted Jurat (one John Le Breton) to preside over our case just happened to be the President of the States himself within his 'other' role as Chief Judge? Yes, the very same jersey Bailiff whose Office had indisputably failed so utterly!

Lord McNally, Justice Minister for the United Kingdom government: when will you finally wake up and smell the coffee. 'Justice' in this beautiful island of ours; just as with the Dual Role itself is a total affront to a modern democracy.

 

 

 

PERSONAL STATEMENT: 16th  APRIL 2013 

 

'This statement has been jointly written by both Deputy Trevor Pitman and I.   

 

In April of 2012, Members will recall we unsuccessfully took a defamation action against the Jersey Evening Post and the estate agents, Broadlands; this being for the publication of an advert which we believed portrayed us as standing for election primarily for financial gain. 

 

Individuals will have their own opinion as to the excuses put forward by the defendants as underlying an advert that depicted us smirking with the words ‘4 x the salary, darling!’ Not least because the reality was that our joint annual income had dropped by £5000, with us both now being States Members; nor indeed was 4 x a salary the mortgage lending rate at the time.

 

 

Nevertheless, the fact is that there are very serious Human Rights issues concerning our court hearing and the wider judicial system generally which have either been deliberately misrepresented or even wholly suppressed by the local mainstream media.  

 

We highlight this now within this forum, because they have severely affected not only us and our families and friends but; as the Judiciary is meant to be there to protect and serve the interests of all people, this statement is relevant to all Islanders.  The fact is that these concerns go to the very root of the right of all people to be given a fair and just trial in accordance with European Court of Human Rights Article 6.  

 

Sadly, in spite of the evidenced reality of the failings in the court process underlying our case the greatest concern of all is that those at the apex of the Jersey Justice system refuse to acknowledge these errors.  That this should be so even with such clear breaches regarding the requirement for a Jurat or juror to recuse him or herself due to a conflict of interest, arising from a relationship existing with a plaintiff or defendant must be seen as deeply worrying. Mistakes, of course, are made by all. Yet once highlighted genuine mistakes are then acknowledged and put right. 

 

That such a conflicting relationship i.e. a personal friendship exists between the individual who was the senior Jurat sitting on our case and the longest-standing Director of the Guiton Group, who own the JEP is indisputable.  Indeed, upon this coming to light after the trial had concluded - thanks to members of the public contacting both ourselves and our lawyers – this relationship has been confirmed: the Jurat even admitting socialising with the director including at each other’s homes.  

 

Yet the Jurat; the Bailiff and his Deputy all astonishingly still attempt to play this down.  The question that obviously has to be asked is why?  

 

 

After all, the wholly inappropriate nature of this Jurat ignoring the rules on recusal, to sit, is starkly demonstrated by the correct decision of the Bailiff and Deputy Bailiff - that they themselves were conflicted and thus could not sit on the case due to our purely political relationship.  This is, it is quite obvious, a relationship that is far less personal and intimate than that existing between the Jurat and the company director of the defendant’s newspaper.  Neither of us has ever socialised privately at either Crown Officers’ home or them at our own.  There is no personal relationship whatsoever. 

 

That the Jersey Evening Post has misled their readers by not reporting this reality should be of great concern to all who are committed to justice and transparency. The truth is that the JEP through their lawyers, and Broadlands are currently still attempting to seek in the region of £200,000 from us on the back of proceedings which they are well aware are wholly in conflict with ECHR Article 6. What, both we and our families and friends ask, does this say about the integrity of these organisations and the justice system?  

 

Since our case it is interesting to note that we have seen a move by the Home Affairs Minister, that should there be a perceived conflict with local Jurats sitting on a case, Guernsey Jurats will be able to be seconded to the Island to preside over consideration of evidence and fact in a case.  This is to many aware of the situation a recognition that the current situation cannot be satisfactory in all instances.  

 

Yet the Bailiff, Deputy Bailiff and Chief Minister upon appeals to them, apparently do not view our case as an instance where such modernisation would need to be employed.  Is it any wonder we consequently ask that  a growing number of people - upon becoming aware of our treatment - begin to wonder that there may be some more sinister, perhaps political motive behind all of this?  

 

It is also equally apparent to us that to save the Island money our Jurats, simply should not be permitted to sit on specific bodies such as boards of media groups; as although they may recuse themselves on a case they may still be a friend of a colleague on such a body.  As the late Lord Denning and others have stressed the Judiciary simply must be seen to be unbiased, transparent and highly professional because it is called upon to make decisions that can change, the course of person’s life.  There must be no perception of even potential bias.  

 

The public must be in no doubt that justice in our Island is beyond reproach and guaranteed for all; and is not dependant upon the depth of a person’s wallet or holding a position of influence. Since our highlighting of these concerns via both local Citizens’ Media justice campaigners and international media the fact that so many people are now approaching us and colleagues with justice issues demonstrates that the total confidence that should exist in the Island to this regard does not. As previously announced a portfolio of these separate cases is currently being collated for eventual presentation to the Lieutenant-Governor.  

 

Yet unfortunately there is also a second very serious concern highlighted by what has come to light since the hearing of our own case. Sadly it relates to the very same Jurat and raises serious questions about the whole validity of his tenure; and in particular his capability to make sound judgements that any and all members of the public could have confidence in. It also raises serious questions as to the adequacy of both the appointment and monitoring processes relating to Jurats in Jersey. 

 

The Jurat (now retired) was previously employed as a Vice-Principle at Victoria College. As revealed in the Sharp Report 1999, a document still suppressed by the Education, Sport & Culture Department this individual refused to look at evidence against his then friend and colleague, the convicted paedophile, Andrew Jervis-Dykes. Jervis-Dykes was eventually sentenced to 4 years for the sexual abuse of College pupils. 

 

As reported by Stephen Sharp not only did the Jurat allowed to sit on our case refuse, as Vice-Principle to look at evidence against Jervis-Dykes, he subsequently even wrote to the Board of Governors supporting the Jervis-Dykes.  Amongst other comments he described the paedophile as having served the College with ‘outstanding competence and conscientiousness’.  Further still, that unless the Police pressed charges the matter could be seen as arising from an ‘unsubstantiated allegation’; and that if Jervis-Dykes had to resign he should be allowed to work out his notice still teaching and then ‘resign with some dignity’! 

 

We were deeply shocked to discover that in spite of all of this, having opted to take early retirement when the Jervis-Dykes case finally became public this individual was shortly afterward put forward to become a Jurat.  Proposed for this role by people including none other than a former President of the Education Committee; a former States Member who was actually on the Victoria College Board of Governors when the Jervis-Dykes abuse scandal took place.  

 

Although this was unknown to us until after our court case when we managed to get hold of a copy of the Sharp Report the clear and very serious failings apparent in this Jurat’s judgement highlighted by Stephen Sharp were clearly known to many within the hierarchy of Jersey’s Law Office and justice system: including both the present and previous Bailiff (who was actually on the Victoria College Board of Governors himself). The responsibility for monitoring an individual’s appropriateness for the role of Jurat lies with the Bailiff and the Superior Number – the other Jurats – yet no one at any time acted on these concerns. Why?

 

How, we ask Members, can we have any confidence that a Jurat - who had already demonstrated this deeply suspect judgement and attitude to evidence against a paedophile would or could then put aside the clear and serious conflict of interest of his personal relationship with the director of a company owning the Jersey Evening Post who were defendants in our case?  We cannot.  Jurats are, of course, not trained or classed as ‘expert’ in the same way as a Judge. They are lay people and thus subject to the same prejudicial concerns as members of a jury. 

 

It is quite clear that rather than maintaining silence on the failings within the process of our court case, the authorities should have long moved for a mistrial.  It is simply not right or good enough that these serious failings are met with a response of ‘if you don’t like it, simply appeal.’  Not only did the above all come to light after the court case’s conclusion the reality is that we, like the majority of Islanders, do not have the tens of thousands of pounds needed to appeal.  Nor, indeed, should people be left in this position as a direct consequence of what are clear failings by an individual Jurat for not recusing himself as required; and equally by the Bailiff’s Office for not having ensured all was as required for an ECHR compliant trial. 

 

To this regard, we would also express our sincere gratitude to the political colleagues past and present who have been brave enough to write to the UK Justice Minister expressing their support for us in raising these concerns. A further fact that the Jersey Evening Post have conveniently kept from their readers in misrepresenting the realities of a case they know is deeply flawed yet seek to benefit from.  

 

That the UK Justice Minister has thus far failed to intervene in the interests of ensuring justice and good governance in our Crown Dependency is deeply disturbing to many. Indeed, it is surely absurd and indicative of a relationship in need of overhaul that the Minister instead offers to refer the failings to the Island’s Bailiff – the very Office whose failings have allowed this to happen in the first place.  

Justice we repeat should be guaranteed for all irrespective of political leanings.  It cannot be allowed within any true and self-respecting democracy to become a tool of suppressing dissenting voices.  Failure to rectify the wrongs that have been allowed to happen in our case against the JEP and Broadlands can be seen only as evidence that this is the unfortunate and unpalatable reality of the court system in Jersey today. 

 

We shall thus continue our fight until we get the justice that is so rightly ours and that of all Islanders.'