Messages from the Shieldfield Nursery Case

This article, by Tania Hunter, is from the British False Memory Society’s Newsletter, (Vol. 10, No. 1 – October 2002), We are
grateful to BFMS for allowing us to publish it. The article, by no means dated, reveals matters in the case which have not been
made known to a wider public audience, particularly regarding Dr San Lazaro and Barnardo’s, whose President is Cherie
Blair. It shows just how important it is to lobby for regulation and radical reform of the child abuse investigation methods,
which have been and are being used in Care Home cases.

Press coverage of the Shieldfield libel judgement has naturally focussed on the experiences of Dawn Read and Christopher
Lillie. For the first time since their ordeal began they have been able to emerge as real people from the shadows of accusations
of multiple child sexual abuse. In the words of Mr Justice Eady, the former nursery nurses are entitled “to be vindicated and
recognised as innocent citizens who should, in my judgement, be free to exist for what remains of their lives untouched by the
stigma of child abuse”.

However, the lessons of the Shieldfield case, reach far beyond the exposure of personal tragedy. The trial judgement
documented a catalogue of professional malpractice and error. Yet there has been little public response from politicians and
professional organisations...  (full article)