Bailiff reacts to resignation calls

by GD on Thu 17 Apr 2008, 7:19 pm

Jersey's Bailiff has issued a statement following calls for his resignation over the appointment of Roger Holland as an honorary police officer.

Holland was found guilty last week of abusing young girls while he was a Constable in St Helier.

At time of his appointment he had already declared a previous conviction for indecently assaulting a child however his application was still approved.

The father of one of Holland's victims is now calling for Sir Phillip Bailhache - the Head of the island's judiciary - to step down.

Sir Phillip has issued a statement today making it clear he has no intention of resigning. He claims he had no knowledge of Holland's conviction when he allowed him to take office, saying "I am afraid it is easy to be wise after the event.

My decision in 1992 not to refer the election of Roger Holland as a Constable's Officer back to the Royal Court was made in good faith and on the basis of the facts known to me at the time.

With hindsight it is certainly possible to say that a different decision ought to have been made."

He is hardly going to say otherwise....