Jimmy Savile

I know you didn't, jO5. It probably won't 'help' any of the victims of the abuse, because their lives are possibly damaged beyond repair, but 'right' has to be seen to be done.

I guess so.

To my eyes, what they did was as bad as murder - should we not pursue murderers if a certain time has passed?

Alistair Mcalpine (looks like we can name him now that he has gone public) has issued a statement saying he did not abuse anyone. read statement

For one thing, he is still alive, and the person referred to is dead. Another, similar name of someone dead has been suggested in place of his.

The terrible danger is that genuine abusers may be able to claim immunity from prosecution on the grounds that the publicity would stop them getting a fair trial. This almost happened with Stephen Lawrence's murderers.
I believe the owners of social networking sites can be sued for libel.

I am beginning to feel very uneasy about the way this whole thing is going. Alistair Mcalpine may or may not be guilty of child abuse but one thing I know; it is impossible to ever prove yourself innocent of such a charge. I fear that someone will get hurt before all this is over. It could be someone innocent but even if it is someone who is guilty I don't think any of us want to see trial by media.

It amazes me that allegations are made, challenged, and the individual on this occasion exonerated, before this new investigation has even taken off! I understand why people feel a need to out paedophiles, albeit in away that does no-one any favours. All these distractions should not prevent justice being done. I, too, expect there will be some casualties.

Questions being asked as to why the 'wrong' alleged paedophile took so long to brief his lawyer, without shifting the focus to the 'right' alleged paedophile. A near relative is now in the spotlight as a result. Stephen Messham has apologised for naming the wrong person, but it appears this is the name he was given by police when they showed him the photo of the real perpetrator a few years ago. Something rotten afoot. I hope the media cock-ups don't undermine investigations. If I was suspicious, I would wonder if misinformation was the order of the day, in order to quieten down the angry public

I'm with you there, when. Almost too obvious, isn't it?

The whole thing just stinks doesn't it? Everyone gathers round and closes ranks, so who are we supposed to trust?
Those poor people who've been abused must be tearing their hair out.

Something is truly rotten but not in the state of Denmark.
Is this a case of mistaken identity or is the old boy network simply closing ranks again and protecting their own, again?

We had a serious problem many years ago. A family member was accused of a serious offence, and eventually found "not guilty" by the Judge, who said the case should never have gone to Court!

Our Barrister said,"it is much more difficult to prove innocence than to prove guilty."

My sympathies go out to all Innocent parties involved in the ensuing hysteria.

As others have already said, "there's bound to be innocent casualties, whose characters will be suspect after this".

It is being alleged that Mr Messham has been bought off. He has been discredited and made to look confused and mistaken. Days ago he was articulate enough to navigate his way to lobbying David Cameron, bringing evidence with him, to prompt some action to re-investigate the care home abuse in North Wales, and was saying 'dont just review the investigations and subsequent restricted review, re-investigate and look at what went on outside the care homes.' Today, they're claiming he can't string a sentence together, isn't the sharpest knife in the box, and has a reputation for dissembling. Well, if he is not very bright, how did Newnight build their investigation around his evidence? The old boys network has never been so active. Where are all those brave investigative journalists who know how to cut through this corruption? Here's a chance for them to show why journalistic freedom is so important.

when I am in total agreement with your posts.

What a relief that we are not so easily fooled.

But how blo*dy depressing it all is.

Agreed, when. The whole thing stinks, as Ella said.

This is like a maze of red herrings and I am definitely losing my way.I'm beginning to realise that this is 'their' intention-it's very worrying.I too wondered why Lord McA didn't voice his concerns from the beginning.

I'm also wondering why a certain more high-profile name hasn't made any sort of response yet....

Give us a clue Ana I have no idea.

Listening to the DG of the BBC, Entwhistle (?) being grilled by John Humphreys was toe-curling. Apparently, this Editor in Chief knew nothing, heard no evil, and saw no evil. He had no idea anything was wrong as he was at a meeting and did not see any newspaper reports. It was all done my those idiots on Newsnight, who should have made sure the right photo was shown.
They really do think we are all stupid, don't they?

It happens all over - the farmer who discovered the wrecked car with Princess Grace in it first said she was in the back seat, but soon changed his statement to say she was in the driving seat. Hm......

I supect that the alleged paedophile politicians are sitting with their lawyers and Max Clifford, preparing injunctions and libel suits, and the media are all behind closed doors, checking and re-checking their evidence sources, scared to death of being wrong-footed again. We'll be having Human Rights lawyers jumping on board next. Will Social Services be assessing risk to children living with, or in unsupervised contact with, those who have been identified? That's what happens when such allegations are made against 'ordinary' alleged sex offenders. I hope they will be allowed to carry out ther safeguarding duties without being threatened or made to back off.

It is all truly grim. Hardly readable. I have no confidence that the truth will out.

An interesting point when about whether Social Services will be carrying out risk assessments as you described.
Every dedicated and conscientious worker would want to do the right thing, but back up through the chain of command are potentially people who play golf with/attend the same masonic lodge as/went to the same school as.........it's insidious.
I was told to back off twice during my career. Not for situations as serious as those currently under discussion, but you get my drift.
That's why it is so important that 'ordinary' people make a fuss and take a stand. Too many evil people have been sleeping too soundly for too long. For years they have been smugly complacent about their connections and influence and feel that they are above the law.
I don't care how much the lawyers and PR advisors are making out of this if it means the clients they work for start looking over their shoulders and wondering whether their cloak of invisibility is wearing a bit thin.

Indeed. The trouble is that a quick trawl of the Internet takes you to all sorts of sites where almost every member of the cabinet, both now and in previous years, is named. It's really horrible and there is no redress against these allegations.

Clearly, there must be an enquiry, but as, purportedly, many high ranking police chiefs are also named, I wonder if the most suitable persons would be those who undertook the Hillsborough enquiry. That one finally seemed to have got to the truth.

Entwistle's resigned. How many more will just duck out....

Cowards! I wonder what tomorrow will bring?