Children's champion rapped over remarks
By Ciaran McGuigan 16 July 2006
The Children's Commissioner has been warned about public statements his office issues following an Ombudsman probe into controversial remarks made during the bitter Laurelhill Community College dispute.
The remarks made at the time by former Children's Commissioner, the late Nigel Williams, related to allegations of assault made against the teacher at the heart of the row, David Bell.
Following a complaint by Mr Bell, who was falsely accused of indecent assault by a female pupil, Northern Ireland Ombudsman Tom Frawley has asked the interim Commissioner, Barney McNeany, to remove the controversial remarks from the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People's website.
He said the remarks "were expressed in such a way that a reader could reasonably have inferred that a much more serious incident in terms of physical assault had transpired at Laurelhill College than that explained to the court".
He added: "I have asked (the interim Commissioner) to note my comments in relation to the standards which I expect to see reflected in public statements issued by Bodies within my jurisdiction, and to bring these to the attention of all staff in the NICCYP, to ensure that he and his staff avoid a recurrence of the imbalance which I am satisfied occurred in this instance."
Sunday Life tried to contact the Children's Commissioner last week, but the NICCYP offices were closed for public holidays.
However, the statements were still present on its website.
Said Mr Bell: "I'm still not happy, the offending press release is still there.
"I wanted it's removal and an apology from the office and have got neither.
"It's very much the function of the children's commissioner to represent the interests of children, that's the basis of the office.
"However, a balance has to be maintained in situations when there may be a conflict between a child and an adult and there has to be balance and no automatic assumption that what the child says is true."
More than 50 staff went out on strike from Laurelhill Community College in October 2004 when a pupil who had made allegations against Mr Bell returned to the school.
Former Children's Commissioner Nigel Williams died in March this year following a long illness.
The Children's Commissioner has been warned about public statements his office issues following an Ombudsman probe into controversial remarks made during the bitter Laurelhill Community College dispute.
The remarks made at the time by former Children's Commissioner, the late Nigel Williams, related to allegations of assault made against the teacher at the heart of the row, David Bell.