Doubt grows over dementia claims made by alleged paedophile peer Greville Janner
OUTRAGE over the failure to prosecute alleged paedophile peer Greville Janner grew yesterday after it emerged he wrote to the House of Lords a fortnight ago, despite claims he is suffering from dementia.
Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders also faced accusations of double standards and a “cover up” because several defendants with dementia have been jailed for sex crimes in recent years.
Lord Janner, 86, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2009 and took a formal leave of absence last October.
On April 9 this year he replied to a House of Lords query about his retirement with a personally signed letter asking to continue his break.
The fact the Labour peer was able to sign the statement cast doubts on the DPP’s decision not to charge him with 22 child sex offences due to the “severity” of his dementia.
His alleged victims said it denied them their day in court and was fuelling concerns of a cover-up.
Accusations that the peer is being protected by the Establishment grew after it emerged at least 19 men with dementia have been convicted of child sex offences since 2010, including 10 in the past year.
Peter Saunders of the National Association for People Abused in Childhood said: “This letter is a clear blow to the lie that this man is suffering.
If he understands something as important as taking leave from the British legislature then surely he is fit to stand trial.
It stinks of an Establishment cover-up. There is unease that someone as influential and high profile as Lord Janner will not face trial when Joe Bloggs has.”
Labour MP John Mann said: “I am surprised someone who is able to send a letter on parliamentary business is seen as too demented to stand trial.”
I am surprised someone who is able to send a letter on parliamentary business is seen as too demented to stand trial.
It has also emerged that Mrs Saunders took advice on the case from a barrister connected to Lord Janner’s son.
Neil Moore, a principal adviser to the DPP, was once a barrister at the same chambers as Daniel Janner although the pair have not spoken for two years, the Crown Prosecution Service said.
The DPP director last week justified her decision not to charge the peer, saying four medical experts found he was unfit to stand trial due to advanced Alzheimer’s.
She said but for his health he would be on trial and admitted the CPS and police missed opportunities to charge him.
The CPS said: “In the case of Greville Janner, the evidence that he is unfit to plead was overwhelming and from four different medical experts.
There is... no risk of further offending meaning no order would be imposed by any court.”
