Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/392875
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 5 OCTOBER 2014 6 News JURGEN BALZAN LOUIS Minster, under investiga- tion in the UK over his alleged in- volvement in a paedophilia ring, lec- tured at the University of Malta for nine years. In reply to questions sent by this newspaper, a University spokesper- son said "Louis Minster had a mainly part-time lecturing post, broadly covering Social Work topics from 1988 to 1997. After this he occasion- ally gave lectures on a casual basis up until 2002." However, the spokesperson clari- fied that at that time the University was not informed about the investi- gations, which came to light in 2013. Documents seen by MaltaToday show that since moving to Malta, Minster represented the University of Malta at a number of international conferences and also trained health assistants on drug abuse. Last month, Minster, a former di- rector of social services in the Lon- don Borough of Richmond-upon- Thames admitted with MaltaToday that he was aware of reports of an alleged paedophilia ring during his term in office in the late seventies and early eighties. Minster was in charge of the coun- cil's social services at the time it is alleged boys from Grafton Close children's home were taken to Elm Guest House in Barnes and sexually abused by a number of prominent people, including former UK govern- ment ministers, senior MPs, senior police officers and people with links to the royal family. To date, Louis Minster, who now lives in retirement in Malta, has al- ways denied that he was aware of the alleged sex abuse on boys in care at the Grafton Close, Teddington Park and Rodney Road children's homes, which were run by the Richmond council. However, in a brief comment to this newspaper, the 82-year-old in- sisted that while he had absolutely no involvement in the ring, he ad- mitted for the first time that he was aware of the alleged abuse. "No…well, yes, through one of my staff," he said. Contacted for further comment, Minster offered to meet in the pres- ence of his solicitor, however he later explained over the phone that "the Metropolitan Police have told me to refrain from commentating in the press since I am a key witness." Further attempts to contact him by phone have proved futile. Investigations show that while in charge of social services Minster was briefed by one of his employees, Ter- ry Earland, head of children's servic- es, while documentation shows that Minster oddly pulled the file of a 14- year-old boy in care who had knowl- edge of child abuse at the time. Earland claims he received com- plaints of sexual abuse from children and referred them to both police and council staff, but no investigation were made. Minster was Director of the Social Services Department of the Lon- don Borough of Richmond-upon- Thames from 1975 to 1984 and was the boss of John Stingemore, the head of the home, who was arrested by the police last year. In 2013, the Metropolitan Police Services' paedophile unit made a number of arrests under 'Operation Fernbridge', which is investigating the alleged child abuse. The Metropolitan Police Services' paedophile unit has evidence that boys from Grafton Close and two other children's homes run by the Richmond council were abused at the guest house during Minster's nine years as head of the borough's social services. Prominent people who attended parties at Elm Guest House are re- ported to have included the Liberal MP Cyril Smith and the Soviet spy Anthony Blunt. According to the UK daily The In- dependent, other alleged visitors to the guesthouse included the former British diplomat, Sir Peter Hayman, as well as a Sinn Féin politician, a Labour MP, several Conservative politicians, judges and pop stars. In addition to eight guest rooms, facilities at Elm Guest House in- cluded a sauna, solarium and video studio. The council terminated Minster's employment in October 1984 and he claims the reasons for his dis- missal were entirely political. He is believed to have received a £10,000 pay-off and a generous pen- sion and took up a new position in Glasgow training social workers. Following Minster's dismissal, the Richmond council secretly paid compensation to a person who was in care at Grafton Lodge, and who was abused at Elm Guest House. jbalzan@mediatoday.com.mt Former Malta university lecturer investigated on Richmond child abuse PUBLIC CONSULTATION MEETING The Minister for Home Affairs and National Security Manuel Mallia in collaboration with the St. Paul's Bay and the Mellieħa Local Councils will be holding a public consultation meeting on security issues. Acting Commissioner Ray Zammit and representatives from Transport Malta will also be present for the meeting. Qawra Palace Hotel 7 th, October 2014 18:00 SAN PAWL IL-BAĦAR LOCAL COUNCIL MELLIEĦA LOCAL COUNCIL ABOUT LAW AND ORDER lecturer investigated on by the police last year.