From Bridget Murphy.
SPEAKING at the Jersey Care Leavers Association meeting, Esther Rantzen (JEP, 1 September) warned Jersey that the eyes of the world would be watching if justice is not done, or seen to be done, in the case of the ongoing criminal investigation into child abuse in the Island.

Although Ms Rantzen pointed out that Whitehall would be reluctant to intervene in Jersey affairs by appointing judges, and it would be wrong and undemocratic to do so, she went on to urge that caring Islanders, if necessary, should take to the streets to demand that independent judges and lawyers be appointed to seek justice for the victims, and that this would be the only way Jersey’s reputation would be restored. She has certainly changed her rhetoric since the Newsnight Jeremy Paxman interview when she accused Senator Walker of being more concerned about Jersey’s image.

However, when Senator Stuart Syvret took the floor and launched his usual invective that the Jersey establishment was corrupt and incompetent, Ms Rantzen, quite rightly, took him to task for using such terms, pointing out that those seeking justice for the victims should not attack individuals, advising such behaviour would lead to doors being slammed in their faces. Here, I believe, Esther should take some of her own advice, in that her own language is equally inflammatory in targeting individuals for ‘cover-ups’.

As someone who cares deeply about justice for victims, I have no doubt most of my fellow Islanders also want justice for them. But, in a civilised society, this has to be conducted by law and not trial by the mob, however frustrated by the time it takes to deliver justice.

As the founder of Childline and, in view of some of the horrendous child abuse over the years in the UK, it ill-behoves Ms Rantzen to agitate against the Jersey judiciary, which further imbues mistrust in those already vulnerable victims.

La Corbière, 5 St Clement’s Road, St Helier.