Over 100 line up to sue States for alleged abuse

Over 100 line up to sue States for alleged abuse

The children, who were held at Les Chênes in St Saviour during the 1990s and early 2000s, say that as well as being physically abused they were locked up in solitary confinement, in one case for six weeks continuously.

One of the youngsters, now in his early 30s, has described hitting the walls of the cell so hard that he was left covered in blood.

He claims that he wrote ‘I hate Les Chênes School’ in his own blood on the walls while detained in solitary confinement.

The man said: ‘They took away my childhood. I didn’t have a life from the age of 12 to 15. I had nothing. I was stripped naked. I was humiliated because I was having tantrums. I was then placed in that cell.

‘At the time I thought it was normal because I wasn’t the only one being put in there. I now know, growing into adulthood, that it wasn’t normal.’

Les Chênes was one of several institutions which featured heavily in the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry – a long-running investigation into sexual and physical abuse in the Island’s post-war care system.

Several former residents claimed that they had been subjected to physical abuse at the centre from both staff and fellow pupils.

During the inquiry, one former worker was accused of ‘pinballing’ children by throwing them off walls, as well as punching, pushing, throwing them to the ground and dragging them by their clothes.

He was also accused of lifting children by their ears. The worker denied all the allegations.

Alan Collins, the UK-based lawyer who is representing the alleged victims, is giving the States until 30 September to come forward with both a formal apology and a compensation scheme for the former residents, as has previously been afforded to those who suffered sexual and physical abuse while in full-time States care. He says that if the States fail to meet the deadline he will will lead a class action in court.

‘If it comes to that, that is what is going to have to happen. I hope it doesn’t,’ he said.

‘This is not going to go away. The States of Jersey needs to step up to the plate now and deal with this,’ he added.

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