Leah McGrath Goodman

Banned from the UK for wanting to expose the truth!!

I recall The Sun newspaper trying to ‘out’ Sir Pedo Jimmy Savile back in 2008 following the Haut de la Garenne - Jersey child abuse scandal and investigation in 2008, and where Savile had his own caravan.

Allegations of an indecent assault were made against Sir Pedo Jimmy Savile, during 2008, by a former resident of the home.^[1] The alleged incident took place sometime in the 1970s, though no charges were made by the police due to "insufficient" evidence.^[2]  How many more times must we hear that old chestnut?

Jersey Police have to date recorded over 100 claims of child abuse.^[3] The police investigated 18 key suspects in the wider investigation,^[4] but the Attorney General stated in 2009 that a significant number of these complaints were unsuitable for the criminal courts.  Arrests and charges have been made^[5] and apparently the investigation still continues, perhaps this latest barrage of complaints against Sir Pedo Jimmy Savile will help open this rotten can or maggots.

Fox Hayes, as Leeds based law firm commenced legal action against the newspaper on behalf of Sir Pedo Jimmy Savile, after the paper ran a series of articles linking the pedo with Haut de la Garenne.

The police are "currently" still investigating the care home after human remains were found at the residence where children were allegedly tortured and sexually abused.  Evidence taken from the orphanage included the exhumed teeth, blood and bones of children.  Sir Pedo Jimmy Savile was outraged and totally denied ever visiting Haut de la Garenne. 

Then The Sun published this following photograph of him being there before and no doubt “fixing it” for many unsuspecting young victim.  "Now then, now then!!"

Solicitors Fox Hayes, representing the feind, had instructed barrister Jonathan Crystal of Cloisters to fight Savile corner, and added; 'that Savile has no connection to the events that have taken place at the Jersey children’s home and has no information that might assist the authorities.

A spokesman for Fox Hayes said: “He has no recollection of visiting the home over 30 years ago and any such visit would have been unexceptional. Connecting Sir James to events at the home has caused him severe embarrassment and upset.  “The reported events are the antithesis of everything Sir James has worked tirelessly to prevent.”

"No recollection!!!" - How many times have you heard that old pedo of an excuse!! The photograph reveals all and fixed ya!!

Yet what this latest scandal brings to light, is the unfair treatment Leah McGrath Goodman has suffered.  She's an American investigative journalist and former UK resident who was banned from the UK after launching an investigation into what really took place at Haut de la Garenne.

Many people don’t realise Jersey is a British Crown Dependency and one of the world’s leading offshore tax havens rife with pedophiles living blatantly in the open.

The problem with the likes of Sir Pedo Jimmy Savile, is because equally sick people working within our governments had and still do turn a blind eye to these kinds of horrific crimes against young defenceless children, and that it’s been going on for decades!

According to Trevor Pitman, Deputy of the States of Jersey and who is behind the petition to get the ban lifted against Leah McGrath Goodman, he states:“The island’s chief of police was illegally suspended and the health minister was thrown out of his job, evidence of children’s remains, were irreversibly compromised as Jersey’s government scrambled to shut down the investigation at all costs.

After succeeding in doing so, Jersey’s government, to this day, squanders millions from the public purse to try to silence and discredit its critics and, most appallingly, shield the accused from being brought to justice, a number of who remain in high-ranking positions working closely with the island’s children – free to strike again.”

With the help of this international petition, we demand Ms. Goodman’s Tier-1 UK visa be restored so she can complete her urgent investigative work. 

The people of Jersey are being denied the democracy they deserve. This should outrage not only members of the island’s public, but everyone in the international community who cares about truth, justice and the freedom of the press.

We are in need of a major overhaul of our troubled system if we are ever going to effect change.  Please sign this petition to if you believe in the principles of a free and open democracy. We need a government that will work to protect our children and bring justice to the victims – not oppress them. On behalf of the people of Jersey, this is quite literally an S.O.S.

Mates in high places...

Every day that goes by without this problem being fully addressed potentially exposes our children to further abuses.  – Trevor Pitman, Member of Parliament, States of Jersey

“Author and journalist Leah McGrath Goodman watched the investigation and digging at Haut de la Garenne from her U.S. home with interest. As the national and international TV cameras turned away from the story, she remained interested and decided to write a book on the subject. She began making trips to Jersey to research allegations of cover-ups...She set up a meeting with the Immigration Service and says it was all going well until she told them what she was writing about...” – BBC

http://www.change.org/petitions/ukhomeoffice-restore-the-visa-of-ba...

UPDATE 18-10-2012

Trevor Pitman

 

This message is from Trevor Pitman, Deputy of the States of Jersey who started the petition "@ukhomeoffice: Restore the visa of banned journalist Leah McGrath Goodman #FreeJersey," which you signed on Change.org.

Jersey Update from Leah McGrath Goodman:

It has been just over a month and the island of Jersey is keenly aware of the progress of this petition...so please keep it coming. It is having immense impact. I am with all of you in spirit, although as yet I am still not allowed back in the UK...

Right now, several UK newspapers and media outlets are in touch amid the Jimmy Savile scandal, as revelations emerge daily of his abusing children at the very same Jersey orphanage I am investigating -- Haut de la Garenne.

This lends a great deal of credence the victims' (previously ignored) testimonies of appalling crimes committed at Haut de la Garenne against children across decades by the rich and privileged -- islanders as well as visitors such as Savile.

One reporter for a major London daily told me, "We have been asking ourselves for days why the press did nothing about this...Now that I hear your story about how you were kicked out of the country for investigating it, I know." Jersey's police has stated that it received complaints of Savile's acts against children but did not charge him due to "insufficient evidence." (It remains to be seen what evidence would be sufficient on an island that has no sex offenders registry.)

By not stopping Savile, the authorities effectively stepped aside and allowed him to continue preying on children until his death. The UK now likes to refer to these matters as "in the past" or "historic" or "it happened in a different era."

Really? In Jersey, people accused of horrific crimes against children are still enjoying high-ranking government posts in health and education -- in other words, close to defenseless children. We know their names and we know what they did according to their accusers. But they have never been charged.

Why? In Jersey, if the Attorney General does not agree to apprehend a person, the police cannot apprehend him. There is no appealing that decision. Neat, huh?

Regarding my plight, Jersey Immigration has stated I am quite welcome to return to the island, provided I get a non-existent "Writer's visa." Yes, this visa does not exist. This week, they finally admitted there is no form for such a visa. We are still awaiting a coherent answer as to what they now advise me to do.

While it is hard to believe any of these things could happen in a Western democracy -- let alone on an island that answers to the Queen -- what might be even harder to believe is that so many people have been trampled so many times in trying to effect lasting change, the vast majority of them have given up. After what I have seen, I don't blame them.

But the truth must come out. Help us keep the pressure on and pass this along to a few more people, if you have a chance. Those of you from Jersey, hang in there. For those of you from elsewhere, this is a beautiful island with truly amazing people. It does not deserve anything less than safety for its children -- and the truth.

Hope this finds you and your families well -- and happy autumn.

Leah

DISGRACED Sir Jimmy Savile’s catalogue of alleged child victims has hit double figures — and is set to rise. Here we outline the ‘victims’ and their claims.

DEBORAH COGGER

'Abused' ... Deborah Cogger and Fiona

MUM Deborah Cogger, now 52, was 14 when she says Savile kissed and groped her on a visit to her children’s home.

FIONA

FIONA, a pupil with Deborah at Duncroft Approved School for Girls, in Staines, Surrey, said she was abused at age 14.

KATRINA ROSE

Claims ... Katrina Rose and Charlotte

NOW 51, Katrina from Middlesex — seen above as a teen — claims she was only 14 when she was abused by Savile.

CHARLOTTE

CHARLOTTE, another Duncroft pupil, claims she was put in a “padded cell” by staff after trying to lift lid on the TV star.

BEBE ROBERTS

Came forward ... Bebe Roberts and unnamed woman

BEBE, now 62, has also come forward to say she was just 14 when she was molested by the legendary DJ.

UNNAMED

ONE woman claims cigar-chomping Jim’ll Fix It star Savile raped her while she was on work experience at the BBC.

JILL

'Attacked' ... former beauty queen 'Jill' and unnamed woman

FORMER beauty queen “Jill”, who is now 61, said the former DJ indecently assaulted her in his caravan when she was 20.

UNNAMED

ANOTHER woman said Savile took her virginity in a London hotel when she was 15 — and often abused her in his dressing-room.

DEE COLES

'Sexual acts' ... Dee Coles and unnamed woman

DEE, seen with Savile above, told yesterday how he made her “do sexual acts” 40 years ago — inside his caravan in Jersey.

UNNAMED

POLICE have confirmed a tenth woman has made allegations against Savile dating back to when the star was in his heyday.

UK Member of Parliament John Hemming tables motion in support of this petition:

http://www.parliament.uk/edm/2012-13/504

The Guardian: Jersey's secrecy culture and interview with Leah McGrath Goodman:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/jun/28/jersey-secrecy-culture

BBC: Interview with Leah McGrath Goodman:

http://voiceforchildren.blogspot.com/2012/07/leah-mcgrath-goodman-banned-from-uk-and.html

[1]   ^ "BBC News — Jimmy Savile named in Jersey children's home abuse inqu.... Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-10-02.

[2]   ^ Evans, Martin (2011-05-31). "Sir Jimmy Savile investigated by Jersey Police over abuse claims". Telegraph. Retrieved 2012-10-03.

[3]   ^ "Police probe pits at Jersey home". bbc.co.uk. 16 April 2008.

[4]   ^ "Jersey murder inquiry 'unlikely'". BBC News. 31 July 2008. Retrieved 6 May 2010.

[5]   ^ "Historical abuse claims: ‘Some unsuitable for court’ « This Is Jer.... Thisisjersey.com. 2009-06-25. Retrieved 2012-10-01.

[6]   ^ "Man remanded over Jersey 'abuse'". BBC News. 28 July 2008. Retrieved 6 May 2010.