The Independent Jersey Care Inquiry on Friday (27 February) heard evidence from four former residents of Jersey's care system and an Opening Statement about foster care and bording out on the island.
Counsel to the Inquiry Harriet Jerram took witness, Luis de Abreu, through his evidence. Supporting documents showed that the Children's Department first got involved in March 1976 after Mr de Abreu's mother, who had been resident in Jersey for five years, made a formal application for him to join her from Madeira. In January 1977 she became terminally ill and Mr de Abreu went into care. During his evidence Mr de Abreu reflected on his and others' experiences at Clos de Roncier family group home, with foster parents and Haut de la Garenne between1978-83, after which he went into lodgings and was discharged from care in 1986 on his 20th birthday.
Counsel to the Inquiry Paul Livingston then read three witness statements and supporting documents regarding Heathfield children's home into the record.
Witness 216 lived at HDLG and Heathfield in the 1980s because of an unstable home life. He made allegations of sexual abuse against a Heathfield staff member in a statement to SOJP in 1991 and the Redress Scheme in 2012.
Witness 80 was on the "at risk" register because his mother was mentally ill and went to La Preference on several occasions totalling nine months between1979-1985. He went to live at HDLG in 1986, followed by Heathfield and Les Chenes. He gave a statement to the SOJP in 2009
Witness 633 gave evidence about his experiences at La Preference and Heathfield in the 80s and 90s to SOJP in 2009.
Council to the Inquiry, Patrick Sadd, gave an Opening Statement about fostering and bording out in Jersey, culled from a vast amount of documentation made available to the Inquiry, and briefly revisited the legislation and policy that lay behind the States' approach to fostering and boarding out that was outlined at the start of the IJCI.
Transcripts and supporting documents will be uploaded to this website in due course.
Public hearings resume 0930 on Tuesday 3 March.