The Home Affairs Select Committee has implored the Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse (IICSA) to make finding a new Counsel to the Inquiry its ‘priority’ after the sudden resignation of Matrix Chambers barrister Ben Emmerson QC in September and a string of other high-profile lawyer exits. Mr Emmerson’s resignation came after the BBC reported that another IICSA employee had accused the top human rights barrister of sexually assaulting her in an elevator. Mr Emmerson has vehemently denied the claim, while the IICSA has denied that any such incident was ever reported.
‘Wholly inadequate’ response
Speaking last week, Home Affairs Select Committee head and Labour MP Yvette Cooper criticised the inquiry’s handling of the allegations against Mr Emmerson: ‘The response from the current Inquiry team to allegations of bullying and sexual assault within the Inquiry itself has been wholly inadequate,’ she said. ‘The Inquiry needs to get things back on track. The appointment of a new legal counsel is a priority.’ A report released by the Committee last week also raised concerns about the transparency of the Inquiry and its duty of care to IICSA staff in light of the current legal leadership vacuum, drawing on letters written to MPs by several former IICSA lawyers who have since resigned from their posts.
Source: Legal Business
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