MP John Healey echoes abuse survivors’ anger at senior council figures

MP JOHN Healey echoed abuse survivors’ anger at former senior council figures who refused to take part in an enquiry into the Rotherham CSE scandal.
John HealeyJohn Healey
John Healey

Ex-council leaders Roger Stone and Paul Lakin, along with several senior managers in post during the years covered by the Jay Report, snubbed investigators’ requests to answer questions.

Mr Healey said: “The reports are by no means the full explanation survivors want or deserve and it's deeply wrong that people who held key council positions during the period covered by Jay didn't take part. 

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“This shows disdain and disrespect for the victims and the courage they have shown in their fight to expose the truth.”

Mr Healey said the reports, which concluded there were no grounds for disciplinary action against individuals but blamed “systemic failure” for the scandal, were “really disappointing”.

He added: “They set out what the independent investigators were able to establish and they do provide some more information but I understand completely why survivors and their families feel so angry. 

“Little new light is shed on the past, and none of the reports have the evidence to hold any individual responsible for the widespread and systemic failings they investigate.”

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However, Mr Healey noted that work was “well advanced” in tackling the issues raised in the reports and previously by the Jay and Casey Reports.

“The council has my full backing for this work, and I will do what I can to make sure the improvements continue,” he said.

“It's also vital that the National Crime Agency and police continue the criminal investigations that have so far seen 26 of the CSE criminals jailed. 

“I hope more will face justice and that in time our town will have the answers it needs.”

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