Feb 06 - Chief Minister “Satisfied” With “Exhaustive And Determinative” Giraldi Report – Total Cost: £2.6 Million
The Chief Minister said he was completely satisfied that the Dr Giraldi Inquiry Report had dealt with every allegation of mismanagement and abuse in an “exhaustive and determinative” manner. The final cost of the Inquiry has just been revealed as totalling £2,642,453.
He added that he was very pleased that the vast majority of the allegations had been found to be without substance.
“This result will reassure the public at large,” he said.
He stated that his Government now considered the matter closed and that no further action was necessary.
The report will be posted on the Government website and the Dr Giraldi Inquiry website. Mr Picardo said that he had sent the Leader of the Opposition and Joanna Hernandez copies of the report earlier this week.
Mr Picardo said he thought the most important conclusion to draw from the report was that there had been a considerable improvement in the environment at the Home which had resulted in better care for residents and service users.
Responding to the accusation that the report had been unnecessary given that many serious allegations had been found to be groundless and had, in any case, already been dealt with – and dismissed - by the pertinent authorities at the time, Mr Picardo argued that such an investigation was required to allay the concerns of the wider public about the treatment of vulnerable individuals.
Speaking about the period when the allegations first emerged, he said: “Back then, we could not have put our hands on our hearts and said they were not true.”
He said that it was not up to him whether the conclusions reached by Sir Jonathan Parker, the author of the report, about the character and conduct of Joanna Hernandez would have any impact on the ongoing Civil Service investigation into allegations of bullying made against her by trainees.
“Politicians,” he said, “must not conduct investigations into civil servants – this is a matter for the Chief Secretary.”
He was joined by the Minister for Social Services Samantha Sacramento at a press conference held at Number Six this afternoon. Minister Sacramento emphasised that she had overseen and helped identify many improvements to her department’s recruitment, training and vetting processes in the light of lessons learned since the Inquiry started.
