There is an interesting and in many ways disturbing review of Richard Webster's The Secret of Bryn Estyn by ACAL solicitor Richard Scorer. Scorer is one of a number of leading figures among lawyers who have taken a special interest in retrospective allegations of abuse made in relation to children’s homes. A partner in the Manchester firm of Pannone and Partners, he represented nineteen of the complainants at the North Wales Tribunal and has also acted in a number of related cases.
Scorer's view is a mixture of begrudging praise and condemnation. He accuses Webster of being selective in his cases, emotionalism and inaccurate analysis.
In a stinging rebuke of Scorer's comments Webster responds in a line by line rebuttal here and concludes by stating how Scorer’s review illustrates how seemingly rational and intelligent professionals allow themselves to be drawn into witch-hunts and will sometimes, even when the evidence of their misjudgment is placed before them, contrive to find a way of sealing their eyes against it so that they may persist in their folly.
You judge who is the most convincing.