Jimmy Savile

I think a dreadful injustice has been done to a man's reputation. There was obviously nothing to suggest he had anything to do any paedophilia. Both of his accusers have admitted it was a case of mistaken identity. Twitter has a lot to answer for. And us stupid idiots who follow it.

I feel ashamed.

j05 I agree and that's the kind of thing I was thinking of when I posted yesterday about my fear that someone would get hurt. I still fear that it will go even further than a damaged reputation and someone will die. I really think we need a clear statement from David Cameron setting out once and for all the scope of the investigations that will take place and then they need to just get on with it. What a nightmare it is turning out to be.

More like he doesn't need this hot potato. Only just come into the job and been handed a can of worms. They really need to get ther act together at the Beeb.

Oh yes, that's certainly the case with Entwistle, when. He seemed utterly bewildered by the fact that he was expected to know about what goes on within the BBC.

Unfortunately ,the "Man at the top" often only knows what he is kept informed of by other people! ( Who may themselves have something to hide!)

No "Boss" can be knowledgeable about everything without help!

I agree he should have resigned because he seemed frozen and made no attempt to manage the problem when the issue first broke. Patten does not seem to have stepped up and supported him at this time. The man was new in the role and needed the Chair to give him some support and guidance.

I don't feel ashamed - just suspicious. Ranks have closed to protect their own.

A case of of mistaken identity eh!

Maybe but how will we ever know.

If I was a poor, disadvantaged individual I might hesitate to take on the full might of powerful establishment figures. At least one of the victims has said he was threatened (as a child) with retribution if he told anybody about the abuse.

I think back to Jeffery Archer when he was cleared of consorting with a prostitute and won substantial damages against a certain publication.

And then later the truth of the matter came out.

I feel for Stephen Messham. He has been bounced from pillar to post by the press, lawyers and police and, as a fragile person because he has been violently abused, exploited and threatened, is now being vilified. It's not him that should be hounded. Once again, closing ranks will throw up some more casualties. The press have put words in his mouth, lawyers too, and the police have not reliably investigated these claims - how could they be expectd to when they are part of the problem?

Perhaps he read the suggestions on various sites that the security services had 'dealt with' certain people who had complained about abuse, or were investigating it. I think some spy thrillers are not as far fetched as we once thought.

A man in his seventies has been arrested in Cambridgeshire this morning by the Operation Yewtree police.

Stephen Messham has been treated terribly by the care system and now by the state. Let's not add to the injustice by assuming everyone who is named must be guilty. Yes many paedophiles are powerful men but not all powerful men are paedophiles.

You are quite right, nightowl -not all powerful men are paedophiles. However, I feel angry with those who knew about the abuse and did nothing about it, just as I felt angry about the failure of the catholic church to protect the vulnerable.

Many of the powerful men who are not paedophiles have covered up for other powerful men who are.

How do you know that?

Odd question jings. Is grass green?

Anybody who can read knows it, Jingle. They have been condemned out of their own mouths. 'I did hear rumours...', 'it was just the culture at the time'. and other mealy-mouthed excuses.I quoted David Steel's remark about Cyril Smith - ' he only smacked a few bare bottoms'. Disgusting.

I agree Notso but we still can't assume they are all involved. I want justice, not a witch hunt

Haven't we learned yet? Evidence is required befor we make accusations.

Are their own statements not evidence? Perhaps a bit more accusation might have saved some children from abuse.

My heart is pounding with anger, as I read this yet again about David Steele and Cyril Smith. I know I'm only stating the obvious - but WHY on earth did no-one whistleblow earlier on? These foul, foul individuals.

I agree, Marelli, - perhaps everybody was leaning over backwards to be 'fair' to the abusers - what a pity they didn't show such fairness to the abused.

I don't think for one moment they are all involved nightowl. Enough are involved though, to result in a blizzard of mis-information and rumour that not only protects the guilty but diminishes the chance of justice.

I want fairness to the alleged abusers until they have been properly identified. After that they deserve no mercy. I do not want anyone wrongly convicted. That helps no-one.

Of course only the real offenders should be convicted....I'm not confident that many of them will be though. Paedophiles target vulnerable children and subject them to the most debased and depraved treatment which can often result in them becoming even more fragile and vulnerable.
Fragile and vulnerable victims do not make credible witnesses in Court.