This decision has angered many care leavers on Jersey and the Jersey Care Leavers’ Association. Anyone who watched the BBC Panorama programme on Jersey last year (‘Jersey – Island of Secrets’; still available on YouTube) will understand why. The Maguires were a key element in the programme. Another prosecution case was also dropped but it was the Maguire case which generated all the comment. This is the third time they have avoided the courts.
The Jersey Care Leavers’ Association was active in responding to this case in the media last week. There is a good summary of the issues in the lengthy coverage last Thursday (4th June) on Channel News, the Jersey equivalent of ITV. The item includes coverage of a press conference organised by Senator Stuart Syvret and including two members of the Jersey Care Leavers’ Association. If you want to watch it you need to go to the following web address and click on the programme for 4th of June (the one with Senator Syvret in the viewing box). You can contact the Jersey Care Leavers’ Association on 01534 738351 (leave an ansaphone message, as the office is not always manned) or cla.jersey@yahoo.co.uk:
http://www.channelonline.tv/channelonline_channelreports/home.asp