Comments
Digital copy of Witness 151’s witness statement to States of Jersey Police in the presence of Detective Constable [Jim] McGranahan providing an account of her experiences under the care of the States of Jersey, primarily with respect to her time at Haut de la Garenne. [Some details redacted].
| Reference | ZC/D/AW1/B1/2/1/11/WS000255 |
| Date | 2 April 2009 |
| Scope and Content | Background and Home Life Details birth in 1956, and early life with mother and father before their divorce when she was 12. Mentions relationship of mother with stepfather. Recalls education at First Tower School, followed by St Helier Girls School, leaving the education system at the age of 14. Recalls engagement in 1970 at age of 14 to a man aged 39. Recalls that her mother knew his mother. Suggests influence of man on Witness 151 resulted in her admission to Haut de la Garenne. Mentions involvement of Police due to the man being involved with another girl from Witness 151’s school. Recalls being questioned by the Police about the man, citing that the man had not touched her. Comments on being taken by a police woman to a female doctor who examined Witness 151 to verify Witness 151’s account of her relationship with the man. Describes the location of the Doctor’s Surgery as near the Royal Hotel and Odeon Cinema. Does not remember signing a statement, and does not recall if the man was arrested. Institutions Does not recall arriving at Haut de la Garenne, but recalls the man she had previously been engaged to passing by the Children’s Home to wave at her during her first two or three weeks there. Describes being shown where she would sleep at Haut de la Garenne by a female member of staff with an English accent. Recalls friend of the female member of staff visiting Haut de la Garenne. Describes the female member of staff’s husband, mentioning an English accent and fun demeanour. Recalls that the couple lived in a flat upstairs at Haut de la Garenne, near the girls dormitory, referring to map. Refers to room marked on ground floor plan of Haut de la Garenne where the boys would work on craft and make fibreglass canoes, as well as to the television room, and the dining room. Comments that she was usually allowed to be left without supervision due to her already having left school. Lists other residents at Haut de la Garenne, mentioning a boy she fancied, and members of a large family, among others. Recalls a boy who used to attempt to catch fish near Haut de la Garenne, commenting that he never caught any fish. Details sharing a dormitory with other girls aged between 12 and 15, referring to map. Notes that at night doors were left open and lights were left on in the corridors. Describes helping the Night Nurse with the younger children if Witness 151 couldn’t sleep. Recalls waking in the middle of the night to find children missing from their beds, and being told by the Night Nurse that the children had wet their beds, or similar. Describes the head [Superintendent] of Haut de la Garenne as tall, and comments on location of his office directly on the left as one walked through the front door of Haut de la Garenne, referring to map. Recalls Wateridge [Gordon Wateridge] as a member of Haut de la Garenne staff, but does not recall his position. Describes daily routine at Haut de la Garenne, mentioning breakfast in the dining room, cleaning, tidying up, helping younger children get ready for school, helping to take younger children for walks to Gorey Castle, lunch, dinner, recreation time, supper, and bed by half eight. Does not recall spending Christmas at Haut de la Garenne; believes she was resident at Haut de la Garenne for about 8 months. Abuse and consequences Comments on sexual abuse at age of 12 years old [before admission to Haut de la Garenne], mentioning she never reported the abuse to the Police due to the abuser telling her not to tell anyone. Details frequent opportunistic sexual abuse by the husband of the female houseparent when Witness 151 was in the dormitory area or corridor adjacent by herself. Recalls the husband hitting other girls on the bottom and cuddling other children, suggesting this was done to avoid his abuse of Witness 151 appearing suspicious. Notes that she is able to recall at what age the sexual abuse occurred due to her having started puberty by that time. Describes occasion where the sexual abuse was almost discovered by the man’s wife as she left their flat. Describes the man as a ladies man, mentioning other girls feeling uncomfortable around him. Recalls fear of man’s sexual abuse worsening, mentioning an incident where he threw her into a swimming pool despite her fear of water, and she swore at him. Recalls asking mother to be allowed home, and returning home soon after. Recalls hearing children scream at Haut de la Garenne, and mentions being told that the children were naughty, and had been put into a locked room until they were quiet. Events since leaving care Refers to discussion dated 1 April 2009 with John Packer of States of Jersey Police who mentioned the name [Gordon] Wateridge. Mentions difficulty with recollection due to having just attended a funeral. Notes that she has followed media coverage regarding the investigation of Haut de la Garenne since early 2008. Mentions that the media coverage prompted her to contact the Police. Details circumstances in which witness statement to States of Jersey Police was arranged, mentioning initial indecision. Refers to mother and father’s deaths, and confiding in her daughter, friend, auntie, and partner, about the abuse Witness 151 suffered as a child. Reports that she has not spoken to the media or former residents about abuse at Haut de la Garenne. Refers to arrest and court appearance of [Gordon] Wateridge. Mentions difficulties sleeping since the investigation into Haut de la Garenne became public knowledge. Refers to being shown a photograph of a man and woman, and labels the man as the [Superintendent] of Haut de la Garenne, mentioning that he did not abuse her. |
| Names | Haut de la Garenne Operation Rectangle First Tower School St Helier Girls School States of Jersey Police Royal Hotel Odeon Cinema Wateridge, Gordon Claude McGranahan, James, Detective Constable Packer, John |
| Keywords | abuse | arrests | admissions | beds | bedwetting | child abuse | childcare | cinemas | Children | Christmas | Castles | Court | corridors | children's homes | Clothing | divorce | detention cells | doctors | dormitories | dinners | dining rooms | Education | engagements | examinations | evidence | Funerals | flats | fathers | Fish | families | Maps | nurses | investigations | Media | mothers | parents | Photographs | physical abuse | Police | puberty | police officers | residents | staff | sexual assaults | swimming pools | sexual abuse | Schools | statements | televisions | witness statements | witnesses |
| Places | Haut de la Garenne, Odeon Cinema, Royal Hotel, First Tower School, St Helier Girls School, Gorey Castle |
| Dimensions | 1 pdf file |
| Language | English |
| Level of description | File |
| Access restrictions | PDF file - please click on the link to download |
| Closed until | 2100 |
Context:
Digital copy of Witness 151’s witness statement to States of Jersey Police in the presence of Detective Constable [Jim] McGranahan providing an account of her experiences under the care of the States of Jersey, primarily with respect to her time at Haut de la Garenne. [Some details redacted].
ZC/D/AW1/B1/2/1/11/WS000255
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