Thread by @MarkWatts_1

Day 5 of Janner hearings of #CSAinquiry behind closed doors ALL DAY again for third day in a row:

Peter Joyce, prosecutor in Frank Beck’s trial;

Iain Groundwell, retired from CPS;

Reading statement by the late Peter Hollingworth, former chief prosecutor for Leicestershire.

Peter Joyce was prosecuting counsel in Frank Beck’s trial in 1991.

At the request of police, he advised how to deal with allegations that arose at the time against Greville Janner, then Labour MP.

He is giving evidence in closed session at #CSAinquiry.

#SecretCSAinquiry

Peter Joyce made a late, successful application to become a “core participant” in #CSAinquiry investigation re Greville Janner after inquiry sent him a “detailed request” in May for a statement...

Although much is in public domain about this police probe, #CSAinquiry has banned discussion of it in Janner hearings. It kept secret that it was ‘Operation Intern’ until after I highlighted this. This is why Peter Joyce is testifying behind closed doors. #SecretCSAinquiry

However, I AM able to tell you what Peter Joyce had to say about the claims against Greville Janner MP in 1991 icw Frank Beck.

Despite Orwellian attempt by the #CSAinquiry to delete it from history.

And that is because he said it in his closing speech at Frank Beck’s trial…

Peter Joyce, as prosecutor, said in his closing speech at the trial of Frank Beck, who had been chief officer of a Leicester children’s home, that the allegations about Greville Janner, then a Labour MP, were “a red herring” and “a charade”.

He called it the “Janner diversion”.

Peter Joyce told the jury in trial of Frank Beck in 1991: “Greville Janner is not on trial here.”

Of course, thanks to the collective efforts of the British establishment, Greville Janner never did go on trial for the next 25 years of his life.

What #CSAinquiry should ask Peter Joyce – and what the public has the right to know – is what advice he gave to the police in relation to the allegations in 1991 of child sexual abuse against Greville Janner, then Labour MP.

Allegations that led to no arrest or prosecution.

I am adjourning for lunch. The Janner hearing of #CSAinquiry may also have adjourned for lunch, but whether it is or not it is a SECRET. #SecretCSAinquiry

A statement from Peter Hollingworth, former chief prosecutor for Leicestershire at time of decision not to charge Greville Janner in 1991, is due to be being read behind closed doors this afternoon at #CSAinquiry.

Peter Hollingworth made a late, successful application to become a “core participant” in Janner investigation of #CSAinquiry in June 2020.

The IOPC, which investigated past police operations relating to the then Labour MP, had advised him to consider applying.

However, Peter Hollingworth died in July 2020, which is why his statement is being read to the very late #CSAinquiry today.

And having waited all this time for some semblance of justice in the case of Greville Janner, it is being heard behind closed doors. #SecretCSAinquiry

“Summary” by #CSAinquiry of evidence in closed session for Day 5 of Janner hearings records that an unnamed barrister – but who was identified in the published timetable as Peter Joyce, prosecutor in Frank Beck’s trial – advised police to ARREST Greville Janner, then a Labour MP.

Peter Joyce advised police [re allegations that arose in 1991 in Frank Beck case] to SEARCH the home of Greville Janner, then MP, and interview him under caution, as well as arresting him, according to “summary” by #CSAinquiry of evidence in closed session.

Peter Joyce addressed his advice [in 1991] to Leicestershire Police’s chief constable because Greville Janner was a person of some prominence, says “summary” by #CSAinquiry of his evidence in closed session.

Peter Joyce accepted that his advice to arrest Greville Janner, then MP, was overtaken by events, so says “summary” by #CSAinquiry of evidence in closed session, and that he later advised against a prosecution.

Peter Joyce, according to “summary” by #CSAinquiry of evidence in closed session: the fact that Greville Janner was an MP and was well known locally would “not have made the slightest difference” to the advice that he gave re the investigation.

Peter Joyce: nobody from the police or CPS was placed under any improper, inappropriate or undue pressure to behave in a way that they might not otherwise do because it was an investigation into Greville Janner – “summary” by #CSAinquiry of his evidence in closed session.

“Summary” by #CSAinquiry of evidence in closed session of Janner hearings records that an unnamed, retired chief law clerk at CPS – but who was identified in the published timetable as Iain Groundwell – denied that deference was shown [in 1991] to Greville Janner, then MP.

Iain Groundwell accepted that he felt shocked that somebody with Greville Janner’s standing in society, in what #CSAinquiry “summary” of evidence in closed session delicately characterises as, “was alleged to have been involved in something like this”.

AKA child sexual abuse.

Iain Groundwell: I had the impression that police were under a degree of pressure from more senior officers who were wary about pursuing Greville Janner.

Evidence behind closed doors, as recorded in “summary” by #CSAinquiry.

Iain Groundwell’s impression of police reluctance to pursue Greville Janner [in 1991] was not based on any specific comments made to him, so says “summary” by #CSAinquiry of evidence in closed session.

“It was not what was said by the police, but what they didn’t say.”

Iain Groundwell on police’s attitude to pursuing Greville Janner, according to “summary” by #CSAinquiry of evidence in closed session: “There was something holding them back, that [sic] at that point they seemed to have gone off the boil.”

Peter Hollingworth, former chief prosecutor for Leicestershire, became a core participant in Janner investigation of #CSAinquiry.

However, by the time the Janner hearings finally began, he could not be called to give evidence because he died in the summer…

A statement by the late Peter Hollingworth, former Leicestershire chief prosecutor, was due to be read out on Day 5 of Janner hearings.

“Summary” by #CSAinquiry of closed session, linked here, makes NO MENTION of his crucial evidence. #SecretCSAinquiry

iicsa.org.uk/key-documents/…