Clwyd team lays down rules for making its report public

The team which spent two years investigating widespread child abuse in North Wales has laid down ground rules over publication of its suppressed report.

The inquiry team wants to see the legal advice which Clwyd County Council obtained before making it's decision not to publish the report, whose findings were detailed in the Independent earlier this week.

The members of the team have also made it clear in a letter that although they are prepared to look at the report again, they will not alter the main findings or recommendations, which include a call for a full judicial inquiry into what went on in children's homes in Clwyd over 21 years.

The Secretary of State for Wales, William Hague, who is coming under increasing pressure to hold such an inquiry, has told the councils which took over from Clwyd in local government reorganisation, to produce a timetable for publication of the report.

Concerns highlighted are thought to include the possibility of libel and the risks of identifying people who have not been prosecuted.

John Jillings, former director of social services in Derbyshire who chaired the inquiry, said: "It may seem strange, but we have not yet had sight of the legal advice about our report.

"I have now written to the council saying we are prepared to look at our report and setting out our requirements."

Mr Jillings added: "We will not fundamentally alter it, our main findings will remain."