I was interviewed by Tasmanina daily newspaper Mercury on 25th May concerning Haut de la Garenne and the investigations that are taking place, and gave my opinion on where the case is going.
There is considerable interest throughout Australia. Many Channel Islanders have made new lives for themselves througout the country and, unsuprisingly, follow the latest developments with interest.
Alan Collins
I have teamed-up with advocate Mark Temple of Ozannes in St. Helier to provide legal advice and assistance to those Haut de la Garenne victims who may feel in need of it.
If you are a Haut de la Garenne victim and you want legal advice we will be please to meet you.
Anything you say to us will be treated in confidence.
If you are unsure as to your legal rights or your position, or simply just do not know what to do, then it might be sensible to get advice.
We will be pleased to discuss matters with you.
I see reported in the media and, perhaps, deliberately timed to coincide with Liberation Day what could be interpreted as attempts (?) being made to downplay the Haut de la Garenne abuse allegations. This comes as no great surprise because in my experience there are always those who out of ignorance and/or fear who refuse to accept the reality of child abuse.
A common refrain is to question why the victims did not report the abuse at the the time. This is, perhaps, the stupidest and at the same time the most of unempthatic of questions, and when put to me, I point out, in answer who exactly was the child suppose to to report to? Moreover when the questioner is asked what would they have done had they been abused he/she usually has no answer, and duly tries to change the subject.
Another line is to say that the victims should not dwell on the past, but it is all very well for the non-abused to say that. A serious wrong can never be put right simply by ignoring it, and why should a victim be deprived of justice because their raising their plight is inconvenient?
In my experience any attempt to downplay the tragedy of Haut de la Garenne will only serve to invigorate those who are now seeking justice for the abuse suffered.
Alan Collins
How do you prove sexual abuse? A very interesting question which I will try and answer from the perspective of a solicitor acting for a victim.
First of all is the victim prepared to give a full account of what happened? If not then it is going to be difficult to prove the abuse. Victims understandably are often reluctant to discuss the horror of the abuse that they suffered, and so what I try to do is to get them explain in their own time and in their own way what happened.
If the victim has already given a statement to the police we might just need to obtain a copy.
We need to know what happened to the victim so that we can advise as to whether they have a case and how it to be pursued.
Assuming that the victim is gives an account we need to evalaute their chances of success in pursuing a claim. We need to see if there is any supporting evidence, for example, witnesses or other victims.
Are there any criminal convictions which are excellent pieces of evidence?
So we are looking at being in a position of being able to prove what the victims says. The stronger the case the better the chances of success.
The victim’s evidence alone may be enough, but in deciding whether this is the case we are looking at that chance of success.
Alan Collins
