Iain’s Blog

Another update…well not a lot else to do at the mo!

Long winter nights and all that!!

I would like to thank all those that turned up and who set up and ran the Carers fundraiser (the Carers team should be extremely proud of all the work they have done this year - from nothing to where we are now is superb) last week for another very worthy cause. It was much appreciated, I am just sorry I couldn’t be there for all of it, but the Scouts and I went climbing, which was a big success. Just regained the use of my arms! It also is appropriate to say thanks to the other Assistant Scout Leaders for all their help over the last year or so. So to Nick, Kevin and Rob and the young leaders James, Bob, Rob P and Cameron - thanks very much. 

It is a big regret that this nightmare has taken my eye off the ball abit in relation to planning events and leading activities  for Scouts, but not long to go until we get back to well ‘normal’ if that is ever possible. But obviously Maeve’s family will forever be tortured by the loss of their daughter. Christmas is never easy when you have lost anyone, young or old. So I know we have our problems and issues to resolve, but then there are always those worse off.

News at the mo is so glum generally, before you even start talking to expert witnesses and their unproven opinions & theories. I was reading about Trupti Patels case earlier (from a few years ago) and it was interesting that two names from our case, Risdon & Carey changed their minds in  that case and things changed. Can’t help if things like that won’t happen again one day?

Theres lots of Skeletons in the world of the world wide web. So funny how certain names crop up all the time and are linked with various others, each day you come up with more. What would we do without the web? All that Spam & Viagra wouldn’t get around or sold!

The Baby P case is still very much in the spotlight, I will not be surprised if the 2 week review doesn’t show anyone to blame and all those at the top, won’t lose their jobs, but they will go…with a payout?! That poor child suffered and the cowards that did it are protected, they were guilty on real evidence and not paid opinions. So WHY do they get protected and Keran (and our children) weren’t? Her picture given out, address etc etc

Some papers covered the approach when these scumbags get out they will be protected and given new names etc….maybe I can see if we can move to somewhere nice? The likes of Venables & Thompson (Jamie Bulgers killers) apparently were given a chance of a new life in Australia, but wherever it was WHY?? Maxine Carr has been moved numerous times and we pay??

Maybe we should stop fighting to clear Kerans name and just take a cushy life abroad…oh hang on…no because that would encourage more miscarriages of justice…sorry to those reading this hoping, praying, wishing that I may shut up and go away… No way!! I have been a Police Officer for most of my working life, and I still even after all that has happened believe in right and wrong and justice. I really do know that some want Carers4carers to fade away…sorry to have to dissapoint you.

We are all as determined as ever to clear Kerans name, there are big problems with this case and something stinks worse than the sewerage works next to the M4. Justice has to be done for all concerned.

The CPS have put a skeleton case together, interesting reading it made to. They seem to be taking their sweet time though, if I was suspicious you would think it was deliberate as I have said before, but the clock is against them. So not really worried here, long ago we built upto the fact that we would lose Keran for two Christmas’s. Its a shame they are keeping two boys from their Mum, but I don’t suppose the system would allow us to nick them for child abuse? Or all the others involved in this ‘case’. Who knows…things may change…. Thats how much they care for kids…ironic huh?

Nice to see some people moving around to new jobs, congratulations to them for being able to carry on their lifes.

 The writing goes on, I need to start pulling the book together, but every now and again somehting new happens to add to it (its a colouring book - nothing too flash) I can’t wait to read Kerans story though as I know I don’t get to hear all of it. Something to look forward to next winter and all those long winter nights…

Take care, and spare a thought for those not with their loved ones, be it our Servicemen & Women, those Falsely Accussed and all those who have to work away.

Iain

P.S.

A huge hello to all my ex Service Colleagues who have been in touch recently through the joys of modern technology, and a friend in the Czech Republic.

Well here we are one year on!

But still we wait…

Still hanging on and it means there isn’t long to go, ONLY 6 months, hopefully though justice will be done well before that.  In my humble view it won’t look good to clear Keran when she has already been released as she would have served her time. But then what do I know, I used to think the Legal system worked (I know - muppet). In all fairness I guess we are whizzing along in legal terms but in family terms one day a mother is away from her children is one day too long.

To think a year or so ago, we had to hear the jury come up with their ‘verdict’, also watch a class stitch up act, by the experts and their ‘unproven’ theory, the Police, the CPS, and all the others involved in making our lives a misery it seems like only yesterday. To see how it all affected our friends and family at the court, was awful beyond words.

But still they (friends, family, community, colleagues, etc etc)  are here standing shoulder to shoulder, wanting to do more to help, but with little to do, until the next court date. The time will come though when we can all demand an end to these injustices and the use of ‘experts’, unproven theories etc.

The public need to have faith that you can’t be stitched up by paid ‘experts’ with nothing but fiction, the courts should go back to operating with FACTS and evidence…real evidence. But again…what do I know…….

I listened to someone at work today talk about being viciously assaulted by someone close to them, who hurt a child too (the lady was preganant at the time of the assault - yeap the guy was a real tough guy) there was evidence, marks etc, the person did get a sentence (which was a surprise) but so paltry it made you wonder if it was worth it?

All of that though comes on the back of the awful death of Baby P…..

What the hell is wrong with our system, an innocent woman goes to prison for something she didn’t do (and most likely that nobody did) on the basis of NO real evidence and three people who viciously assaulted a little boy, where there was lots of marks, scars (evidence) were allowed to kill that child? Is it me, or is something seriously wrong with the WHOLE SYSTEM?

We need a root and branch review of how these cases are handled, I personally don’t think the Social Worker on the front line needs to be targeted, as happened in the Victoria Climbie case, as thats what we in the Zoological game know as a Scape goat.

I did like the way the council have started the damage limitation exercise, the 3 guilty souls have been punished, they are not the only 3 guilty ones in that case….no one sacked…but there is still time……

 There are gaps in the system, there needs to be better working between agencies, better training and many other things, but the two nightmares of the death of an innocent child and the wrongful imprisonment of innocents needs to be stopped NOW.

As we have had another Sally Clark case and now sadly another Victoria Climbie, never again they said….hmmm, don’t know about you but I ain’t convinced.

Moving away from that tragic case for a mo, and trying to be glass half full, we have met some great people over the year, inside and outside of  the prison, made new friends, experienced new things (I wonder if they can warm up the sniffer dogs cold nose for example when it gets stuck up your….) unfortunately Keran wasn’t around to see some of them.

All too recently the house seemed empty at hallowean and bonfire night, but more so at the Remembrance Service, something Keran took great pride in restarting the link with the youngsters and not so youngsters at the church. Another great turnout and a great service.  I didn’t only remember the red of the poppies and all those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, but the yellow of a certain ribbon and the power of its message. November the 11th will always be Poppy Day, but for me the 13th of November will always be yellow ribbon day.

Experiences I never thought in a million years I would ever go through, from interviews with tabloids, broadsheets, tv, radio, handing in petitions etc which we have got through them and become so much stronger for it. We can all do amazing things, sometimes you just have to be put through hell before you find out what they are.

The fundraising events, the meetings, the marches, the yellow ribbons that decked the villages in the local area and spread to far flung places across the world, what a sight they were. So much crammed in, yet still so much missing, a wife, a mother, a friend, a neighbour, a community minded soul, etc. Time lost, that none of us will ever be given back.

But we have met and heard from so many others, who have been or are still victims of these experts (and if you are too, then get in touch). For soon it will be our turn and this time things will be different. We have learnt, we have grown and now nothing scares me or the team, they have done their worse these medicine ‘men’ (still find it funny how male dominated it is)….I am coming for you, and I demand a ‘Goudge’ Enquiry, and not just looking at one Expert this time.

 This nightmare should NOT have happened and there is NO excuse for it happening again, there are cases like Burridge, Wise that came after us (with totally different results), others due to start soon, and appeals and retrials Sue Holdsworth to name but one. No more cases of ‘we pay, you say’! That is not Bristish justice.

Keep the faith, I will do my best along with all the others to kick start a review, however long it takes…..