10/03/2008

Second Cellar To Be Searched In Jersey

Police searching a former care home in Jersey at the centre of child abuse allegations have reportedly broken into second bricked-up cellar in the building.

The search at the Haut de la Garenne building is now entering its third week. Last month, a child's skull was found at the site.

Police have already discovered bones, blood spots and disturbing graffiti, saying "I've been bad for years and years", in the first cellar room to be uncovered.

There are believed to be two more secret underground rooms, which will also be searched as the investigation continues. None of the chambers are believed to feature on the original plans of the building.

The building, which closed as a care home in 1986 and was later turned into a youth hostel, is being searched as part of an investigation into allegations of sexual abuse in Jersey, dating back to the 1960s.

The investigation, which was launched covertly in 2006, led to the discovery of the child's skull in the building on February 23.

Police have not yet confirmed whether the remains, believed to date back to the early 1980s, are male or female.

Around 160 people have claimed that they were abused at the home, during the 1960s, 70s and 80s.

The main focus of the search has been in the building's cellar, where the four bricked-up chambers were discovered. It is understood that witnesses and alleged victims have described the rooms and claimed that they were used as "punishment rooms".

While police have said that the bones found at the site might yet prove to belong to animals, a number of other suspect items have also been removed from the building and these are reported to include shackles.

Police are also reported to be expecting to make three arrests in the case over the next fortnight.

Two of the suspects are believed to be in Jersey, with the third suspect being in the UK mainland.

Up to 25 people are suspected of being involved in sexual and physical abuse at the home.

Meanwhile, a rally, which called for the resignation of the island's Chief Minister - on foot of the scandal - was held in Jersey on Saturday,

On Monday, Lenny Harper, Jersey's Deputy Chief Police Officer, told the BBC that retired police officers had attempted to obstruct the investigation.

(KMcA)




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