Child Abuse Inquiry Chair, Alexis Jay has told members of the late Lord Janner’s family that their applications for Core Participant Status in hearings relating to sexual abuse within Westminster, have been denied. Daniel Janner QC, Laura Janner-Klausner and Marion Janner applied for the positions, which would have allowed the family to cross examine witnesses and influence aspects of the Inquiry’s work.

The Inquiry has very specific guidelines about who can apply for CPS, with sole discretion to accept individuals resting with the Chair.

The rules tell us that:

“When determining any applications the Chair must, in particular, consider whether:

a. the person played, or may have played, a direct and significant role in relation to the matters to which the inquiry relates;

b. the person has a significant interest in an important aspect of the matters to which the inquiry relates; or

c. the person may be subject to explicit or significant criticism during the inquiry proceedings or in the report, or in any interim report.”

Core Participants can:

• Be provided with electronic disclosure of evidence, subject to any restrictions
  made under section 19 of the Inquiries Act 2005 and subject to a formal promise
  to keep the evidence confidential until it is used in any public hearing
• Be able to make opening and closing statements at any hearing;
• Be able to suggest lines of questioning to be pursued by Counsel to the Inquiry;
• Be able to apply to the Inquiry Panel to ask questions of witnesses during a
  hearing.

The family was hoping to defend the allegations against Lord Janner, who has been accused of non recent child sexual abuse. As a peer, the allegations about him are likely to be discussed during the Inquiry’s hearings on alleged child sexual abuse within Westminster.

In giving her reasons for not granting Janner’s family Core Participant Status, Professor Jay said:

“I have decided not to grant core participant status to Daniel Janner QC, Laura Janner-Klausner and Marion Janner and the applicant known as WM-A4 in the Westminster Investigation.  In my view the case management reasons for not merging the investigation into the institutionalresponses to allegations of child sexual abuse involving the late Lord Janner of Braunstone QC with the Westminster investigation continue to apply. To the extent that Mr Janner’s application is based on concerns about his father’s reputation, and his ability to respond to allegations made about his father, these are matters for the Investigation involving the late Lord Janner of Braunstone QC, in which the children of the late Lord Janner have already been granted core participant status.”