North Wales Child Abuse: 76 Fresh Allegations

By Tom Parmenter, Sky News Correpondent

Detectives have confirmed they are investigating 76 new cases of suspected historical abuse at children's care homes in north Wales.

Police officers leading Operation Pallial say the allegations centre on 18 different care homes between 1963 and 1992.

A total of 84 individuals have been named as abusers by complainants and 16 of those have been named by more than one victim. One arrest has so far been made, in Ipswich in Suffolk.

The total number of allegations recorded since new concerns were first aired in November has now risen to 140.

Detective Superintendent Ian Mulcahey said: "Almost everyone that Operation Pallial is aware of has now been video interviewed by specially trained officers. 

"Many have provided graphic accounts of abuse, in some cases of very serious criminality."

Offences range from verbal and physical assaults and abuse through to indecent assaults, rape and buggery.

One of the victims who has taken new allegations to the police has previously told Sky News how he was abused in various North Wales care homes.

Former Bryn Estyn boys home in Wrexham is at the centre of the inquiry

"Michael" also revealed how as a 12 year old he was repeatedly put on a mini-bus with other children, driven down to London and forced to take part in lurid sex parties.

Last November he told Sky News how the men who abused him were all "posh people" who plied the boys were drink and drugs before abusing them.

He said: "It was how compliant you were, how nice you were towards them and looking back it was all about what they could get away with."

The Waterhouse Inquiry in 2000 found evidence of widespread sexual abuse and various care home staff members were convicted for various offences.

Compensation was then paid to 140 victims but there have long held suspicions that the true extent of abuse in the homes in north Wales has never truly been uncovered.

Operation Pallial was set up to ensure allegations were indeed properly investigated.

Phase One of the work "has resulted in the collection of significant evidence of systemic and serious sexual and physical abuse of children whilst in care".

Operation Pallial has also shown "no evidence of systemic of institutional misconduct by North Wales Police officers or staff".

Last week detectives made their first arrest as part of the investigation into historical allegations of abuse.

A man was arrested in Ipswich, Suffolk and questioned on suspicion of a number of serious sexual offences before being bailed to until the end of July.

Officers expect phase two of the operation to involve further arrests.

The NSPCC said the investigation was "a major step forward into probing claims of widespread child abuse".

The charity's director Peter Watt added: "Many who have been waiting decades for justice and for their voices to be heard have now finally found the courage to come forward and we mustn't fail them this time."

The NSPCC urged anyone who has any information about abuse to contact either their round-the-clock helpline on 0800 389 6176, or the police immediately.

The full police report into phase one of the inquiry has been published on the North Wales Police and Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca) websites.

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