The Independent Jersey Care Inquiry’s public hearings on Wednesday (25 February) began with Counsel to the Inquiry Patrick Sadd making an Opening Statement about Don Road family group home which was open between 1967-1977.
The Panel then heard the first three witness statements being read into the record from former residents of Don Road – some of whom say the house parents physically abused them and others who said it never happened.
Mr Sadd read out a statement given directly to the IJCI by Witness 45, who from the age of three spent most of her childhood in care. She described her experiences at Haut de la Garenne, Don Road, La Preference and a girls’ hostel.
Counsel to the Inquiry Paul Livingston read evidence from Witness 321 who spent time at HDLG, Don Road, La Preference and Les Chenes. He gave two statements to the States of Jersey Police in 2008.
Witness 214 spent the first few years of her life at Westaway Crèche, Brig-y-Don, the crèche at HDLG and home before going to Don Road in 1967 and detailed her experiences to the Redress Scheme.
Transcripts and supporting documents will be available for viewing and download in due course.
Public hearings will resume at 1000 on Thursday (26 February) with Mr Livingston reading into the record a further six witness statements relating to Don Road.