News

SoJP statement following Donnelly conviction

Thursday 18 June 2009

FOR MEDIA RELEASE AFTER ROYAL COURT

THURSDAY 18 MAY 2009

EMAILED TO MEDIA AT 15:40 ON THURSDAY 18 MAY

Claude James Donnelly has faced two separate trials at the Royal Court in which he has been convicted of serious sexual offences against young girls. Donnelly is without doubt, a predatory paedophile whose behaviour seriously affected the lives of the girls he preyed upon. We hope that the victims involved in the two trials have received some comfort and satisfaction from the decisions reached by the courts.

‘I would also like to thank the investigation team, the witness liaison officers, the disclosure officer, and also the legal team, Mr Stephen Baker and Mr Simon Thomas, for their efforts in this case.

‘Due to other ongoing Court cases, and the historical abuse enquiry, which remains ongoing, we cannot say more, but again, we stress that we hope today's decision has brought the victims involved in this case some comfort and closure after all they have been through.'

Det Supt Mick Gradwell
SIO for Operation Cannon
The States of Jersey Police