Multi-million pound child abuse inquiry to consider 'more evidence' than Chilcot Report

The independent inquiry into historical child sex abuse claims in England and Wales will consider more evidence than Sir John Chilcot's as yet unpublished report into the Iraq war, a solicitor-advocate has claimed.

It was announced last week that current and former MPs along with the Catholic and Anglican churches would be among those facing investigation by Justice Lowell Goddard's inquiry.

Set to be the biggest public inquiry into institutional child abuse and establishment cover-ups ever held in England and Wales, Goddard said there will be 12 different lines of inquiry, each with public hearings.

Speaking last week, the New Zealand judge said: 'The investigation will focus on high-profile allegations of child sexual abuse involving current or former members of parliament, senior civil servants, government advisers, and members of intelligence and security agencies.

'It will consider allegations of cover up and conspiracy and review the adequacy of law enforcement responses to these allegations.'

Bevan Brittan partner Peter Steel underlined the scale of the challenge facing Justice Goddard, saying: 'The size and scope of this inquiry means that there is likely to be more evidence to consider than the Chilcot Report into the Iraq war - the evidence for which ran into the millions of pages.

'It is a truly daunting undertaking, which Justice Goddard seems to be under no illusions about.'

Steel said that while the inquiry's 2016 budget may appear substantial, it will be a 'real challenge to "leave no stone unturned" and keep within' the £17.9m limit.

'For the local authorities and other public bodies facing scrutiny, it will also be a costly and difficult process,' he added. 'The key will be to cooperate fully and openly, and put the unearthing of the historical truth first before everything else.'

Paula Jefferson, a partner at BLM, told The Times's The Brief that the inquiry's budget will 'quickly be depleted', following the chancellor's announcement that he was to cut 29 per cent from local government funding.

The investigation into historical sexual abuse claims was set up last year but has been beset by delays and controversy following the resignations of two high-profile lawyers as previous chairs.

Baroness Butler-Sloss stood down as chair in July 2014 following questions over the role played by the former attorney general, Lord Havers, her brother, in the late 1980s.

Her replacement, Dame Fiona Woolf, also resigned following of criticism over her links to the 'establishment', including the former home secretary Leon Brittan.

Lord Brittan died in January without being informed by the Metropolitan Police that he would not face prosecution over allegations of rape in the 1960s.

The Home Affairs Committee criticised the police for pressing ahead with an investigation against Brittan because it feared a public backlash and criticism from the media.

John van der Luit-Drummond is deputy editor for Solicitors Journal
john.vanderluit@solicitorsjournal.co.uk | @JvdLD