Minister 'sorry' for mocking email

A Jersey government minister has apologised for an internal email that mocked the police officer leading an investigation into child abuse on the island.

Police chief Lenny Harper Police chief Lenny Harper

As officers said new information has increased the number of suspects, Deputy Police Chief Lenny Harper said he was considering legal action after seeing the email sent by health and social services minister Ben Shenton which referred to him as comedian Lenny Henry.

Mr Harper is leading the investigation into the former children's home Haut de la Garenne, where more than 160 people say they were abused since the 1960s.

The email, sent to the States of Jersey Cabinet and leaked to the media, criticised the investigation and said: "My wife keeps referring to Lenny Harper as Lenny Henry - I don't think she's far wrong."

Mr Harper said the email was childish and a "clear attempt to damage the inquiry".

Now Senator Shenton has apologised for any distress caused and said he did not want to "stand in the way of justice".

He said: "I apologise to Mr Harper and I can assure the public that I certainly do not want to stand in the way of justice being executed.

"I am confident that we will leave no stone unturned in our pursuit of any wrong doing."

It is understood Mr Harper will now not take any legal action and considers the matter closed.

The inquiry into abuse at Haut de la Garenne follows victims claims they were kept in solitary confinement in dark underground "punishment rooms" where they were drugged, raped and flogged by staff. Human remains have already been found buried in a stairwell.

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