Jersey 'victim' speaks out

Updated 22.58 Tue Feb 26 2008

Keywords: skeleton, hostel, Jersey

A former resident of a Jersey care home where a child's skull was found has claimed youngsters were repeatedly raped there.

Peter Hannaford spent the first 12 years of his life at Haut de la Garenne, now at the centre of a major child abuse investigation after human remains were found in a bricked-up cellar.

Peter Hannaford spent the first 12 years of his life at Haut de la Garenne, now at the centre of a major child abuse investigation after human remains were found in a bricked-up cellar

Police are continuing to search the building but the work may take weeks to complete while a structural survey is carried out.

Detectives leading the inquiry into alleged abuse at the home have spoken to 140 victims and witnesses about allegations dating back 40 years.

Speaking to ITV news, Mr Hannaford, 59, said children were repeatedly assaulted by male and female members of staff.

Abuse was also carried out by older children at the home and complaints were ignored to protect the image of Jersey, he added.

The island's deputy chief police officer Lenny Harper said an investigation started after a number of former members of staff were arrested on suspicion of paedophile crimes.

He said the force will now investigate all care agencies in Jersey because victims made complaints of abuse but "they were not dealt with".

The former health minister for Jersey Senator Stuart Syvret today repeated allegations that child abuse had been covered up on the island.

Forensic teams are searching seven sites at Haut de la Garenne after a sniffer dog trained to find human remains indicated a number of areas.