Council
could face massive damages bill
http://www.rochdaleobserver.co.uk/news/s/207/207911_council_could_face_massive_damages_bill.html
Rochdale
observer - 8th January 2006
ROCHDALE
Council could face a huge bill in damages if it is successfully
sued over one of its biggest mistakes.
A number
of the now grown-up children involved in the notorious ‘satanic
abuse’ cases are taking civil action against the council.
Thousands
of pounds worth of damages could be paid out to families who saw
false allegations of ritual abuse made against them.
And a BBC1
documentary, called ‘When Satan Came to Town’, is set
to reveal the identity of two severely criticised social workers
for the first time on Wednesday.
A total
of six families from the Langley Estate, Middleton, had claims made
against them in 1990 which included devil worshipping and child
abuse. The allegations, made by Rochdale Council social workers,
led to 20 children being snatched from their families in dawn raids,
taken into care and separated from their parents for months.
A year later,
in March 1991, following a 47-day High Court hearing, Mr Justice
Douglas Brown ruled none of the children suffered ritual abuse and
there had been a ‘gross breach of good practice’ among
social workers.
He also
singled out the two social workers, said they lacked adequate training
and said conducted interviews were below standard.
Rochdale
Council was approached by the BBC to take part in the programme
but declined because of the current court action.
In a statement
to the BBC, the council said it had publicly ‘acknowledged
and apologised’ for the errors in the investigation at the
time.
It said:
"Following the judgement, the local authority took immediate
steps to ensure the mistakes made in this case would not be repeated.
"In
the intervening years the whole landscape of child protection has
changed.
"The
practice of interviewing children is now conducted in accordance
with carefully researched and reviewed national guidelines."
A council
spokesman said they could not comment on the forthcoming programme
but they no longer employed the two social workers.
‘When
Satan Came to Town’ will be aired on Wednesday 11 January
on BBC1 at 9pm.
Police
probe mum's custody battle claim 8th December 2005
