Letter to Home Affairs Select Committee re further possible associations of Fiona Woolf

Below is the text of a letter sent earlier today to Keith Vaz MP and the Home Affairs Select Committee re further possible associations of Fiona Woolf, Chair-designate of the UK Child Abuse Inquiry.

As stated in the letter any such associations, should they exist, may be entirely innocent.

Nonetheless, in the interests of public scrutiny of Mrs. Woolf's suitability, I believe that the Committee should ask these questions of Mrs. Woolf.

31^st October 2014

To:

Keith Vaz MP, Home Affairs Select Committee

Dear Mr. Vaz,

UK Child Abuse Inquiry

Fiona Woolf: Further possibly relevant associations

I write to draw your attention and that of the Home Affairs Select Committee to further possible associations of Fiona Woolf which seem to me to raise further questions about the suitability of Mrs. Woolf to chair the UK Child Abuse Inquiry.

I wish this letter, and my letter of 26^th October 2014 regarding limitations on transparency, to be treated as Written Evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee.

I further ask that the Committee gives careful thought to these further possible associations when it considers on 4^th November the possible need to recall Fiona Woolf to give further Oral Evidence to the Committee.

Further possible associations

I have identified four possible associations of Mrs. Woolf about which I believe appropriate questions should be asked by the Committee:

1. Daniel Janner
2. The late Henry Hodge
3. Lady Justice Arden
4. Mr. Justice Tugendhat

The mention of Lady Justice Arden and Mr. Justice Tugendhat in this context may surprise the Committee.

Each has, so I understand, in the recent past banned the publication of books which relate to (alleged) child abuse. The effect of such bans, it seems to me, may be to conceal child abuse or conceal its cover-up by public officials.

Any or all of these seeming associations may be innocent. However, given the pervasive alleged nature of the cover-up of child abuse, I believe that Mrs. Woolf should be asked by the Committee about the nature of any such association with the four named individuals.

Daniel Janner

I understand that Daniel Janner is the son of Lord Janner (formerly Greville Janner MP) about whom child abuse allegations were made in 1991. Further, it appears that Police investigation into Lord Janner’s conduct was “live” as of a few weeks ago (Chief Constable Simon Cole, personal communication).

I understand that both Mr. (Daniel) Janner and Mrs. Woolf are (or have been) benchers of the Middle Temple.

It seems to me to be pertinent to establish whether or not Mrs. Woolf has had any contact with Lord Janner or his family, given the social circles in which she moves.

I believe that Mrs. Woolf should be asked the following questions:

1. Have you ever met Daniel Janner? If so, what is the extent and nature of your association with him?
2. Have you ever discussed with Mr. Janner the child abuse allegations which exist with respect to his father, Lord (Greville) Janner or any other matters relating to child abuse?
3. Were you aware, before your appointment, of the child abuse allegations about Lord (Greville) Janner?
4. Have you ever met Lord (Greville) Janner? If so, what is the extent and nature of your association with him?
5. Do you consider that any association with Mr. Janner or Lord Janner casts doubt on your suitability to chair the UK Child Abuse Inquiry?

The late Sir Henry Hodge

I understand that the late Sir Henry Hodge was a senior figure in the Law Society, as was Mrs. Woolf.

The late Henry Hodge was the husband of Margaret Hodge MP. Serious concerns persist with respect to child abuse in Islington during a period when Mrs. Hodge was, so I understand, in a position of responsibility.

I believe that Mrs. Woolf should be asked the following questions:

1. Did you ever meet the late Sir Henry Hodge? If so, what was the extent and nature of your association with him?
2. Did you ever discuss with the late Sir Henry Hodge, the allegations relating to child abuse in Islington relating to the period when his wife, Margaret Hodge MP, had some responsibility for such matters?
3. Were you aware, before your appointment, of the child abuse allegations with respect to Islington?
4. Do you consider that any association with the late Sir Henry Hodge or his family casts doubt on your sutiability to chair the UK Child Abuse inquiry?

Lady Justice Arden

It is reported that Lady Justice Arden recently banned publication of a book about abuse by “a VIP” using an arcane piece of English Law.

The media report which came to my attention to Lady Justice Arden’s banning of the book is located here:

http://davidhencke.wordpress.com/tag/lady-justice-arden/

It seems to me that the predictable effect of Lady Justice Arden’s ban is to suppress knowledge of child abuse of a person who, it is said, became “a VIP”.

I believe that Mrs. Woolf should be asked the following questions:

1. Have you ever met Lady Justice Arden? If so, what is the extent and nature of your association with her?
2. Have you ever discussed any matter relating to child abuse with Lady Justice Arden?
3. Were you aware, before your appointment, of the role of Lady Justice Arden in banning a book about child abuse?
4. Do you consider that any association with Lady Justice Arden casts any doubt on your suitability to chair the UK Child Abuse inquiry?

Mr. Justice Tugendhat

Mr. Justice Tugendhat in January 2013 banned publication of a book entitled “From Hillsborough to Lambeth” and, so I understand, caused a Web site formerly located at

http://lambethchildabuseandcoverup.com/

to be closed down.

Mr. Justice Tugendhat’s judgement is recorded here:

http://www.bailii.org/cgi-bin/markup.cgi?doc=/ew/cases/EWHC/QB/2013/212.html&query=lambeth+and+tugendhat&method=boolean

Mr. Justice Tugendhat’s judgement raises serious questions about Mr. Pead’s conduct but it is, in my view, a matter of concern that a High Court judge should ban publication of a book on child abuse allegations relating to Lambeth.

It may be nothing more than coincidence but Julia Tugendhat, who I believe is Mr Justice Tugendhat’s sister in law, was, like Fiona Woolf, one of the limited number of sponsors (44) of Lady Brittan’s fun run. See

http://www.doitforcharity.com/DBrittan

It does raise the possibility that Mrs. Woolf, the Brittans and the Tugendhats are part of the same social circle.

I suggest that Mrs. Woolf is asked the following questions:

1.       Have you ever met Mr Justice Tugendhat? If so, what is the extent and nature of your association with him?

2.       Have you ever discussed any matter relating to child abuse with Mr. Justice Tugendhat?

3.       Were you aware, before your appointment, of the role of Mr. Justice Tugendhat in banning publication of a book relating, so it seems, to alleged child abuse in Lambeth?

4.       Do you consider that any association with Mr. Justice Tugendhat casts doubt on your suitability to chair the UK Child Abuse inquiry?

Distribution

Exceptionally, I have placed my letter of 26^th October 2014 on my UK Child Abuse Inquiry blog here:

http://ukchildabuseinquiry.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/when-does-presumption-of-maximum.html

And I intend to publish the present letter similarly.

I appreciate that, in theory, such publication by myself of Written Evidence before publication by the Committee is arguably a contempt of parliament. I very much hope that you will agree that the exceptional circumstances relating to this matter are a full and satisfactory explanation of my actions.

Yours sincerely

(Dr) Andrew Watt