Click here to The Times today published an article by its chief reporter Sean O’Neill regarding the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, in which Howe & Co represent 25 % of the victim and survivor core participants.
 
The Times report states that the Inquiry has  not published a single report since its inception 2 years ago and despite the cost of the Inquiry to date.
 
In fact, Howe & Co have been pressing the IICSA for many months to make interim recommendations for changes and improvements to the Civil Justice System, The Criminal injuries Compensation Scheme and in regard of reparations for survivors. As recently as the 8 June, when Howe & co met with the Inquiry’s legal team, Howe & Co raised the need for early recommendations again. We were advised that the solicitor to the Inquiry would be engaged in meetings in the current weeks in regard of making early recommendations and the Inquiry would be publishing an interim report in early 2018.
 
On the 4 and 5 July Howe & Co will be attending a victim and survivor seminar being held by the Inquiry along with a large group of Howe & Co’s core participant clients.
 
Howe & Co’s clients continue to demand that there is open, transparent and a clear process from the Inquiry and that information is provided at the earliest opportunity to allow our clients some of which are illiterate, to properly interact with the process and feel that they are part of the process.
 
We again urge the Inquiry to ensure that the victims and survivors of child sexual abuse are front and centre of the Inquiry. ​edit.

On Tuesday 4th and Wednesday 5 July an Inquiry Seminar will be held on Victims and survivors’ experiences: impacts of Child Sexual Abuse (CSA), support needs and support services.

The Seminar will hear from a number of individuals, to gather information and views for consideration by the Inquiry on the impact of CSA on victims, survivors and their families; their support needs; and current support provision.

The Seminar will be held in the International Dispute Resolution Centre (IDRC), London and will be live streamed, subject to a five minute delay, on the Inquiry Website. The location will normally be here but this may change on the day. 

The full agenda is attached and a participant list will be published once confirmed nearer the seminar.  ​

Howe + Co attend the hearing before the IICSA on the 6 June 2017. The Guardian Report of the Catholic Church Investigation of the IICSA on which Graham, Adam, Martin, Jack and I have been working. The second link is to the transcript of the hearing, our first set of submissions begin at page 19.
 
It is a very important investigation as the Catholic Church is responsible for he education fo over 900,000 children in England and Wales; and there are serious concerns regarding child protection in Catholic institutions, not least locally in Ealing Abbey and School (whose former Abbot goes on trial for child sexual abuse in October)  
 
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jun/06/uk-child-abuse-inquiry-three-catholic-schools-should-form-case-study
 
 
www.iicsa.org.uk/key-documents/1494/view/6 June 2016 Roman Catholic Church Preliminary Hearing Transcript.pdf?platform=hootsuite