Mr Emmerson announced his resignation from the inquiry at the end of September after reportedly reading on the internet that he had been suspended from the post as Counsel to the Inquiry by chairwoman Professor Alexis Jay. At the time, Professor Jay cited concerns about Mr Emmerson’s leadership that needed further investigation as the reason behind the suspension, though the suspension was subsequently lifted following Mr Emmerson’s leadership to allow him to remain at the IICSA for an interim period.
Sexual assault claim refuted
However, the IICSA is now facing backlash over its commitment to fully investigate Mr Emmerson’s conduct after it was reported on BBC Newsnight that members of the inquiry panel, including Professor Jay, had been informed of an allegation of sexual assault made against Mr Emmerson in early September. A woman also employed by the IICSA reported that Mr Emmerson had sexually assaulted her in the lift at the Inquiry’s office in Millbank, but had asked for the incident not to be investigated. Mr Emmerson has categorically denied the allegation, while a spokesperson for the IICSA has claimed that no such complaint was ever made: ‘It is not true that an inquiry worker made a complaint of sexual assault to the chair or to the panel or to any official,’ they said.
Source: BBC; The Lawyer
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