MEMBERS of the Jersey Care Leavers Association fear victims of abuse are too afraid to come forward because ‘everybody knows each other’ in the Island.

Speaking on national radio, they urged anyone who was abused in care in Jersey to come forward and appealed to the Island’s authorities to listen.

Women’s Hour on BBC Radio 4 dedicated part of this week’s programme to Haut de la Garenne and interviewed two former residents of the home as well as Mike Pollard, chief executive of Health and Social Services. Introducing the programme, presenter Sheila McClennon said: ‘The discovery of children’s bone and teeth at Haut de la Garenne children’s home in Jersey has traumatised the whole of Jersey.’

Anna, who spent nine-and-a-half years at the home, was first to tell her story and went on to say that she believed it was hard for people to speak out in Jersey. ‘Unfortunately some people are not coming forward because they are scared because it is a small Island and, yes, it is true everybody does seems to know everybody else here,’ she said.