In response to Kathy Gyngell: It will cost a fortune and take for ever. The madness of the child abuse inquiry, Thomas wrote:
I struggle to see what this inquiry will achieve. If, in light of the revelations of widespread child abuse facilitated and even encouraged by a plethora of politically correct public sector organisations from the NHS, BBC to the social services departments of Labour held rotten boroughs, we haven’t got round to taking child abuse seriously and taking steps to prevent it, a very expensive report in three to twelve years time won’t make any difference.
Criminal proceedings continue to be brought where possible and this is ultimately the best we can do for historic child abuse. How having a judicial forum in which people can emote and rake over past horrors of child abuse will save a single child, heal a single abuse victim, bring anyone now dead to justice or sensibly contribute to what should be done to prevent recurrence is unclear.
Better some sort of low key, low cost process whereby those who feel the need can make a record of their abuse can do so. This is a judicial inquiry as group therapy and as much as I have every sympathy for the victims, that doesn’t entitle anyone to this all singing all dancing carnival at the taxpayers expense.
