REACTION TO DR GIRALDI HOME ALLEGATIONS The PDP has again called for a public inquiry into the “very serious allegations made of abuse and neglect at the Dr Giraldi Home”.
The PDP are reacting to a letter to the press from Duncan S Jones, the former Team Leader, Adult Services, Social Services Agency who held responsibility for Social Work Service for Adults, the Probation Service and Day and Residential Services for People with Disabilities, including the Dr. Giraldi Home.
The PDP say that Mr Jones has no apparent axe to grind and that his letter should not go unnoticed.
“In this letter Mr. Jones states quite categorically that he was prevented from ensuring that full and proper investigations were conducted into serious allegations made against members of staff by a number of residents.”
“The suggestion,” say the PDP, “is that political interference prevented a proper and full investigation. Mr Jones is therefore aggrieved by the Government’s Press Release on 12/12/07, specifically the third paragraph which states ‘The social services Agency repeats, yet again, that it has always acted swiftly and responsibly whenever allegations of neglect or abuse have been made. All cases have been properly investigated...’”
“He believes that this statement is untrue and that the public have a right to know this, they said.
PDP urges the Government to commission an independent investigation into these issues and to make a statement on the results of such an investigation.
“These are very serious allegations that cannot and should not be ignored. They affect the most vulnerable sector of our society who are entitled to have their rights respected and protected.”
Meanwhile similar views have been expressed about the letter by the Gibraltar Local Disability Movement.
“The movement will like to indicate, both to the Government and the Social Services Agency that any interference in preventing any investigations to any allegations, if brought to it, will be an act of contempt of the social services agency act, 2002,” said the GLDM.
http://www.chronicle.gi/readarticle.php?id=000012638&title The Gibraltar Chronicle
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