Jersey care system abuse inquiry: Ex boss apologises

Anton Skinner apologised to children "who suffered as a result of us being lax"

The former head of Children's Services in Jersey has apologised "unreservedly" to children who were allegedly abused at a children's home.

Anton Skinner told an inquiry into historical abuse in the care system that Blanche Pierre residents suffered because his department was "lax".

Mr Skinner said they did always strive to put the best interests of the children first and denied a "cover up".

He admitted he needed to learn lessons from how he dealt with matters.

'Children suffered'

Allegations of physical and sexual abuse were made against Allan and Jane Maguire, who ran the home in the 1990s, but the case against them was dropped when it reached court.

An inquiry is now under way.

Mr Skinner told the inquiry that abuse allegations were not detected soon enough due to "an error of our organisational structure at the time" and they only knew when two members of staff at the care home raised concerns.

He said: "I offer an unreserved apology to the children who suffered as a result of us being lax in detecting those things earlier."

'No cover up'

On Wednesday the inquiry heard Mr Skinner had given Mrs Maguire - the then care home boss - another job in social services despite knowing she was accused of violent abuse.

Earlier he said he gave her the job so the couple would quit the home - and admitted she had been sent a letter thanking her for "many years of excellent service".

He said: "I believe we were always striving to keep the best interests of the children first and foremost in our mission.

"It was not a cover up in the sense that somebody told me a series of complaints and I did not act.

"I acted on them as promptly as I could and there are lessons to be learned for me from that."