Parents await key ruling in crèche case

Date: 18/05/2000

By Rory Watson

THREE years after six children were allegedly sexually abused at one of the European Commission's Brussels crèches, concerned parents are hoping to learn next week whether the case will come to court.

After a lengthy investigation, three judges are expected to decide next Thursday (25 May) whether there is a case to be answered. If not, the file will be closed, but if there is, two former employees at the kindergarten are likely to be put on trial.

Drawing on the views of eight experts who interviewed the children after the allegations surfaced in 1997, the parents and the prosecution believe there is sufficiently clear evidence for the case to go to court.

The defence is relying on the assessment of a further three experts who were asked, at its request, to give a second opinion in June 1998. After reading the files, but apparently without contacting any of the individuals directly concerned, the trio concluded that no abuse had taken place. It is understood that their report also suggests that some parents 'contaminated' others into believing that the abuses occurred.

Whatever weight the three experts' opinion carries, their deliberations have undoubtedly lengthened the proceedings. It took the Belgian ministry of justice nine months to find funding for their work, which itself took almost a year.

Meanwhile the Commission, which has invited companies to bid for the contract to run the crèche, has still not decided which firm should be given the responsibility, even though the present arrangements expire at the end of June.

Nor has the EU executive implemented Vice-President Neil Kinnock's pledge to show solidarity with parents by becoming a party to the case. Insiders have indicated this commitment will not be implemented until after next week's ruling.

Three years after six children were allegedly sexually abused at one of the European Commission's Brussels crèches, concerned parents are hoping to learn whether the case will come to court.