header-logo header-logo

Fourth time lucky?

30 September 2016 / Richard Scorer
Issue: 7716 / Categories: Features , Personal injury
printer mail-detail
nlj_7716_scorer_0

Can IICSA renew its sense of purpose under its new chair, asks Richard Scorer

The resignation of Dame Lowell Goddard as chair of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse (IICSA), and her replacement by Professor Alexis Jay, the fourth chair since the inquiry was established in 2014, has generated much debate about the purpose, structure and future of the inquiry. Commentators have questioned the suitability of the new chair, and suggested that the inquiry is too big and unwieldy, some have argued that the inquiry is now redundant. Do any of these criticisms have merit, and where now for IICSA?

Background & new chair

IICSA initially started life in 2014 following widespread concern about institutional child abuse. It began as a non-statutory panel inquiry, becoming a statutory inquiry in 2015. Accordingly its chair now exercises judicial powers. Its terms of reference are “to consider the extent to which state and non state institutions have failed…to protect children from sexual abuse” and to identify steps required to prevent such abuse in the future. The range

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS
Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs
The Court of Protection has ruled in Macpherson v Sunderland City Council that capacity must be presumed unless clearly rebutted. In this week's NLJ, Sam Karim KC and Sophie Hurst of Kings Chambers dissect the judgment and set out practical guidance for advisers faced with issues relating to retrospective capacity and/or assessments without an examination
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
back-to-top-scroll