I am investigating allegations of abuse in relation to James Braid who was recently convicted at Portsmouth Crown Court. I would be please to talk to anyone, in confidence, about the case.
Alan Collins
Tel.: 02392492472
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Archive for the ‘personal injury’ Category
Bay House School
Thursday, February 18th, 2010William Henry Smith School
Tuesday, January 5th, 2010Here is an article that recently appeared in
THE BIG ISSUE IN THE NORTH · 23-29 NOVEMBER 2009
Abuse claims at West
Yorkshire school
More former pupils have contacted solicitors representing alleged victims of abuse at a West Yorkshire school after police questioned three men in their sixties on claims of sexual and physical assaults going back to the 1970s. And an ex-employee has claimed William Henry Smith School (WHSS) in Rastrick, Brighouse failed to investigate an assault on a pupil he claims he witnessed just two years ago.
WHSS is a non-maintained residential special school set up in 1920. According to its website it “provides high quality education and care for boys with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties”.
In the summer West Yorkshire Police quizzed three men in connection with alleged sexual and physical assaults dating back 30 years before releasing them on bail pending further investigations.
One former pupil, Mark Edson of Selby, believes some former pupils have received compensation, although he wasn’t one of them.
The law firm representing the former pupils, Verisona of Hampshire, wouldn’t confirm this. But Alan Collins, the solicitor working on the claims, said: “Media coverage has led to more ex-pupils contacting us. Usually in cases like this one most people don’t come forward so I am still looking for witnesses prepared to talk to me about the allegations as I wonder if we are still not getting the entire picture of the full extent of the abuse.”
Lee Varey from Halifax was a maintenance worker at the school from 2004 until he quit in 2007. He was impressed by the dedication of the staff and therefore “left bitterly disappointed when senior staff members failed to properly investigate an attack I reported on a young man aged 16 in which he was punched four or five times by a staff member”.
Varey, who claims this contributed to him leaving his post, said: “No one took a statement from him even though there were many staff that knew I was unhappy about what happened.”
WHSS was unwilling to respond to questions about Varey’s claims and whether it had carried out an investigation into them, issuing a statement saying: “Any such matters would be protected by Data Protection and as such we are unable to make any comment.
An apology for child migrants
Monday, November 16th, 2009For me the Australian Government’s apology to the child migrants is both welcome and significant.
I have met many people who are now in their fifties, sixties, and seventies who suferred abuse as children. They have lived with the memories and consequences all of their lives, and often in silence.
A very wise judge once said that one of the pernicious fruits of child abuse is silence. How true.
It is striking that the recent media coverage has highlighted that very human need on the part of victims to be heard and recognised. Many tell me that they felt at the time that were forgotten and treated as second class victims. Maybe the perpetrators of the abuse in their cruel and warped way thought they could justify thier actions because they saw the children as somehow inferior?
Many victims as I said tell me that they need recognition, and someone in authority to say “sorry”. Kevin Rudd’s apology on behalf of Australia is therefore surely welcome. It should also be seen as example for other governments to follow.
For more on the Australian government’s apology I suggest you go to: http.//news.bbc.co.uk
or
www.theaustralian.com
Alan Collins
023 92 492472
Haut de la Garenne - an update
Monday, September 21st, 2009HAUT DE LA GARENNE
I am of the opinion that Gordon Wateridge’s conviction and sentence is a significant step forward for those Haut de la Garenne victims seeking compensation for the abuse they suffered.
There has been plenty of coverage of Wateridge’s trial and the best place to go for this is the BBC’s website at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8266897.stm
or just go to www.bbc.co.uk and the Jersey news section under England. There is plenty of coverage on the major media websites. A good one to look at is the Sydney Morning Herald: http://www.smh.com.au
Many victims have had to struggle with the fact that the allegations of abuse were not believed in some quarters, and so the Wateridge conviction following on from that Aubin must in my opinion put pay to any such doubts.
The allegations of abuse cover many decades from the 1940’s down to the 1980’s. It is my suspicion that many former residents have not felt able to come forward and report their stories to the police out of fear, and embarrassment which whilst misplaced is entirely understandable. Of course it is only by coming forward that the abusers can be exposed and prosecuted, and the truth heard.
Alan Collins
23.9.09
I can be contacted on 02392492472
Haut de la Garenne
Monday, September 21st, 2009PRESS RELEASE - Haut de la Garenne
Jersey abuse case solicitor says sentence is ‘vindication’ for victims.
Haut de la Garenne victims’ solicitor speaks out on the Gordon Wateridge conviction.
Alan Collins, Solicitor-Advocate of Portsmouth-based law firm, Verisona, who is acting on behalf of some of the victims in the “Haut de la Garenne” children’s care home case in Jersey, says that the sentence passed on Gordon Wateridge, is a vindication for them.
He explained:
“For those victims who allege they were abused, Wateridge’s conviction today is an important milestone that has been reached and passed in their fight for justice”.
Verisona Solicitors & Advocates have been instructed to pursue civil claims against the States of Jersey. The Royal Court in St. Helier heard evidence that Wateridge, a houseparent at the home from 1970-1974, had assaulted and indecently assaulted children who were in care at Haut de la Garenne.
Alan, who is acting on behalf of victims not just in the UK but also in Australia who are seeking justice for the abuse they say they suffered, added:
“The trial has brought into sharp focus the allegations. The resulting conviction is vindication of our clients’ claims of abuse and leaves little, if any, doubt that the regime that was supposed to care for them, failed in the worst possible way. It is hoped that the States of Jersey will now accept it has to do right by these people and give them the redress they seek.”
Alan Collins is a Solicitor-Advocate, and Director of Verisona Solicitors and Advocates. He can be contacted on 023 92492472 or 07899916899 for further comment.
Haut de la Garenne
Thursday, August 20th, 2009PRESS RELEASE
Jersey abuse case solicitor says sentence is ‘vindication’ for victims
Portsmouth solicitor speaks out on latest conviction
Alan Collins, Solicitor-Advocate of Portsmouth-based law firm, Verisona, who has acted on behalf of some of the victims in the “Haut de la Garenne” children’s care home case in Jersey, says that the conviction of Gordon Wateridge, is vindication for them.
He explained:
“For those victims who allege they were abused, Wateridge’s conviction today is an important milestone that has been reached and passed in their fight for justice.”
Verisona Solicitors & Advocates have been instructed to pursue civil claims against the States of Jersey. The Royal Court in St. Helier heard evidence that Wateridge, a houseparent at the home from 1970-1974, had assaulted and indecently assaulted children who were in care at Haut de la Garenne.
Alan, who has travelled as far as Australia in his bid to seek justice for his clients, added:
“The trial has brought into sharp focus the allegations. The resulting conviction is vindication of our clients’ claims of abuse and leaves little, if any, doubt that the regime to care for them, failed in the worst possible way. It is hoped that the States of Jersey will now accept it has to do right by these people and give them the redress they seek.”
Alan Collins is a Solicitor-Advocate, and Director of Verisona Solicitors and Advocates. He can be contacted on 023 9238 0112 for further comment.
Haut de la Garenne
Wednesday, June 24th, 2009In an interview with BBC Radio Jersey on 23rd June I explained that the Michael Aubin case was an important step forward for the Haut de la Garenne victims in their fight for justice. This was because the evidence and sentence should put pay to those who were of the opinion that the allegations were false. Clearly by any standard all was not well at Haut de la Garenne.
For reports on the case go to the BBC’s website at www.news.bbc.co.uk
Alan Collins
Haut de la Garenne
Wednesday, June 24th, 200922.06.09
PRESS RELEASE
St. Thomas’ Church Newport
Sunday, June 21st, 2009Were you in the choir at St. Thomas’ Church (Newport I.O.W.) in the 1960’s?
If so, please contact me in confidence.
Alan Collins
02392492472
Winton House
Sunday, June 21st, 2009Were you at Winton House School (Winchester) between 1970 and 1973?
If so, please contact me in confidence.
Alan Collins
02392492472