Very Important Paedophiles

[poliphilo]

Child abuse isn't that terrible really,

Well it can't be, can it?

Here's Ian Watkins the lead singer of the Lost Prophets and he's been abusing children for ages and several people told the police over a period of time and the police did nothing about it.

And again, here's Nick Clegg's old headmaster and he's been abusing children for years too and the prosecutor decided that it wouldn't "be fair" to proceed with the case.

Two more VIPs to add to the long list of monsignors, politicians and cabinet ministers whom the relevant authorities have been in no hurry to discipline or prosecute.

Which is reasonable enough. You've got to have a sense of perspective in these matters. We're talking about people of worth and substance- a rock star, an educator; people who give back to the community. It would be a shame to discommode them over such a relatively trivial matter.

Comments

[rosamicula.livejournal.com]

I make the point because I think one of the unfortunate consequences of this case and Operation Yewtree is that it makes child rape seem like it is mainly the preserve of the influential and powerful, not the stepfather and the neighbour.

It also implicitly provides an excuse for the procurers and those who assisted the likes of Savile, as if he was too famous to challenge, whereas they were probably benefiting from his 'leftovers' or simply taking money off him for it.

[rosamicula.livejournal.com]

Similarly - and predictably - Watkin's ex-partner wasn't listened to when she repeatedly made allegations and supplied names and details of his intention to abuse children and history of assaults on them. Was she ignored because he was famous, or simply because she was a bitter ex, a woman scorned, a woman?

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

No-one wants to acknowledge the extent of child abuse. The more cases we can write off the more comfortable we feel.

Watkins' ex-girlfriend is a person of low status all ways round. She can be ignored without any risk of comeback from the golf club or the lodge.

[splodgenoodles.livejournal.com]

Yes this. Ditto with what's coming to light in the Catholic Church. The church hierarchy enables abuse (thus attracting people who wanted to abuse) but it's the regular, everyday men who do the bulk of abusing. There's not enough attention paid to the everyday hierarchies and social mores that allow most sexual abuse to happen.

Still, I've just seen this guy has gone down for at least 20 years (with lifelong parole) and I am pleased about that.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I think Savile was pretty much his own procurer. And I'm hearing he may have procured for others. There's a rumour that he used to deliver boys to Edward Heath. I have no idea whether this is true or not.

I follow John Ward at the Slog. He makes the same point- that most abuse goes on in the home- and people like Savile are the exception. He also reckons, for what it's worth, that the extent of Savile's predation is being exaggerated.