Eric Bristow

[TheCyclingProgrammer]

Oh, it was just a mis-wording: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/...abuse-comments

Funny how people, in particular bigots and right wingers, suddenly come out and say these things afterwards or that they were hacked or they were on medication. Why doesn't he just MTFU and say that, yes he actually meant it...

He's "sorry he offended people". The sort of half-arsed apology that usually follows things like this.

It doesn't matter that he offended people - who gives a tulip about that. People have the right to offend and be ignored. I wasn't offended by what he said, I wasn't particularly shocked at all to hear it from somebody like him. Its the fact that his attitude and others that have this attitude actually cause genuine harm.

[OwlHoot]

He doesn't have a point. If you think he has a point then that makes you a bit of a c*** too.

It's attitudes like his that shame people into not coming forward.

Those speaking out ARE the ones fighting back and empowering other victims to come forward.

People like him and those that would defend him are just

All the same, for many years now child abuse criminal investigations have been vigorously pursued and public opinion sympathetic to victims. So why wait until now to come forward?

I suspect the Government have somehow brought this investigation to the fore in the last few months, and persuaded victims to go public, as a distraction from Brexit.

[DaveB]

All the same, for many years now child abuse criminal investigations have been vigorously pursued and public opinion sympathetic to victims. So why wait until now to come forward?

I suspect the Government have somehow brought this investigation to the fore in the last few months, and persuaded victims to go public, as a distraction from Brexit.

Actually the FA binned off it's internal investigation back in 2003, citing lack of funds.

Criminal investigations can only happen when Police can be given reason to believe an offence has taken place. If the victims don't talk there is not much they can do.

Part of the abuse process is convincing the victims that the abuse is their fault, that they deserve it in some way and that if they say anything they or their loved ones will be made to suffer for it. It's psychological as well as physical, and it's deeply damaging.

The fact that you can actually think that the Govt. would exploit child sex abuse for political purposes says more about you than anything else.

[SueEllen]

Strawman. No one is saying this.

I was replying to DA's first post.

[OwlHoot]

The fact that you can actually think that the Govt. would exploit child sex abuse for political purposes says more about you than anything else.

You mean like the Government, or MI5, indirectly exploited children in the Kincora Boys' Home in the 1970s ?

They may not have directly encouraged abuse, but they were content to take advantage of abuse committed by others.

[vetran]

You mean like the Government, or MI5, indirectly exploited children in the Kincora Boys' Home in the 1970s ?

They may not have directly encouraged abuse, but they were content to take advantage of abuse committed by others.

sad to say I suspect OwlHoot has a point.

I suspect the security services have a weird moral compass.

[MrMarkyMark]

You mean like the Government, or MI5, indirectly exploited children in the Kincora Boys' Home in the 1970s ?

They may not have directly encouraged abuse, but they were content to take advantage of abuse committed by others.

As I was saying earlier, it was pretty much accepted as just one of those things.

A lot of people have very short memories, we already know a lot of MPs were previously involved.
It was covered up for years, simple as that.

[NigelJK]

Criminal investigations can only happen when Police can be given reason to believe an offence has taken place. If the victims don't talk there is not much they can do.

Unless, of course, the 'criminal' is a serving police officer:

Chief Inspector Anglesea

And even when a publication like Private Eye break the story (again) they have the 'clout' to see off the accusers, allowing them to continue their sick practices.

In 1994, Anglesea was awarded £375,000 in libel damages after media organisations ran stories about his links to abuse at children's homes in north Wales.

Note the lack of National publicity over this very serious miscarriage of justice.

[OwlHoot]

I suspect the security services have a weird moral compass.

Yes, the needle points toward the heading "Results"

[d000hg]

All the same, for many years now child abuse criminal investigations have been vigorously pursued and public opinion sympathetic to victims. So why wait until now to come forward?

Because it's STILL a massive deal to do so - you're inevitably dredging stuff up from decades ago which you've spent your adult life trying not to think about. Many people actually repress these things to the point they barely remember them.
Bringing that up and risking your name and most intimate painful memories being splashed around the media is a hard thing to do especially if you have no proof... to be the first one to come forward is very risky.