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We won't find out the truth about historic abuse on the Island until early next year.
The Panel on the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry have announced that they won't be shedding light on what really happened in Jersey's care system until sometime during the first three months of 2017. Originally they planned to report by the end of this year.
A police investigation was launched into historic abuse in 2008 after they announced the discovery of what they thought were the remains of a child buried at the former children’s home at Haut de la Garenne
The discovery caused a media frenzy around the world and although the remains turned out to be nothing more than a piece of coconut shell, the investigation led to many people coming forward claiming to have suffered abuse as children whilst in States' care. The police took 1,776 statements. They heard of 533 alleged offences, 315 were alleged to have been committed at Haut de la Garenne, 66 at other homes or institutions and 152 at places where children were fostered or in private addresses.
The States went on to issue an apology and set up a financial compensation scheme for all former residents of children’s homes who were victims of abuse.
There have since been 133 claims for compensation for historic sexual or unlawful physical abuse from people who were children in full-time care at places like Haut de la Garenne between 9 May 1945 and 31 December 1994.
Back in 2013 the States agreed to the Committee of Inquiry into historic abuse, a transparent investigation, chaired by a lawyer from outside the Island.
The two-year inquiry is costing up to £23 million.
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