Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/404410
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 26 OCTOBER 2014 News 11 The proposed height of the build- ings is set to increase by 0.45 me- tres to reach 40 metres. The justi- fication for this increase in height was the need of revisions due to in- gress of water during excavations. According to DeMicoli the project is responding to a "huge demand for office space in Malta and spe- cifically in areas like St Julian's". However, according to DeMicoli, the project also responds to social needs. "The car park and its location will help to alleviate parking problems in the area. We are also providing additional services to the com- munity, such as a lift to the par- ish church, easy access from Lapsi Street to the Spinola piazza, unique retail and catering offerings and a supermarket." The 880 square metre increase in the site area is the result of the inclusion of five properties along Triq Lapsi. The proposal foresees the demo- lition of one of these buildings and an increase in the height of the other buildings. The gardens of all four properties will be redeveloped while the rear garden of one of the buildings will be excavated and reinstated after the completion of works. Ray DeMicoli claims that the pro- posed buildings will have the "same impact on the gardens that the oth- er developments had in the past". "It is an accepted fact that isolat- ed buildings cause large blank party walls until the adjacent properties are built. This is the case with the current situation." But when the gaps are filled, the "view of this row of buildings from Michael Ang. Borg Street will im- prove". According to DeMicoli the project, which is set on a previ- ously undeveloped forested area, has always been sensitive to the surrounding neighbours and the importance of "greenery and land- scaping". MEPA has screened the proposal and concluded that no significant negative impacts will result as a re- sult of the extension. DeMicoli insists that the company is open to amendments throughout the entire process. "This is why we regularly consult MEPA, residents and other stake- holders, such as the local council and the parish church." JURGEN BALZAN THE former director of social serv- ices in the London Borough of Rich- mond-upon-Thames between 1975 and 1984 confirmed that he was made aware of reports of an alleged paedophilia ring during his term in office in the late seventies and early eighties. According to reports in the UK, Louis Minster has always 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. But in a frank interview with Mal- taToday, Minster, who has lived in Malta for the past 25-odd years, said that he got to know about the police investigations in 1982, when Terry Earland, Richmond's then director of children's services, had informed him that the police wanted to carry out some interviews and inspec- tions. He explained that he had denied knowing of the investigations to a British journalist earlier this year be- cause he had just had a minor traf- fic accident and was flustered by the call. However, he lucidly remembers how he first got to know of the inves- tigations 32 years ago. "I remember being told by Terry Earland that the Metropolitan Po- lice were carrying out investigations and I had told him to go ahead and assist the officers in their investiga- tions," Minster said in an interview he gave this newspaper at his home in Naxxar. Asked whether he was ever ques- tioned by the police, Minster – who was employed at the University of Malta between 1988 and 2002 – said he was never interrogated or called by the police over their investiga- tions while Earland who was respon- sible for the children's homes had fully cooperated with the officers. "The police had asked to carry out inspections and interviews in the presence of a social worker and I had instructed Earland to take care of it since it was his responsibility," he added. Contrary to reports in the Brit- ish media Minster insisted that he was neither under investigation nor a witness in the case of the abuse which allegedly happened between 1977 and 1983. "Last March, I got a phone call from the Metropolitan Police who informed me that the Director of Public Prosecutions had decided not to use me as a witness," the 83-year- old said. Questions sent to the Metropolitan Police to confirm this so far remain unanswered. The ring is said to have involved senior politicians, showbiz celebrities and members of the royal household and a number of wit- nesses have recently recounted how they were lured into alcohol fuelled games to get them drunk and forced to participate in lewd sex acts. 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 newspaper The Independent, other alleged visi- tors to the guesthouse include the former British diplomat, Sir Peter Hayman, as well as a Sinn Féin politi- cian, a Labour MP, several Conserva- tive politicians, judges and pop stars. Pressed to explain whether he ordered an internal investigation, Minster said "No, I left it up to the police," adding that the names of the persons involved in the paedophilia ring had only emerged following his resignation from his post. Initial investigations started in the early eighties, however the case only returned under the spotlight in late 2012 and a full criminal inves- tigation, Operation Fernbridge, was launched in February 2013. Quizzed on whether he had ever been informed of the investigation's outcome, Minster said "I'm not sure whether a conclusion was ever reached. Before and after retiring I never got to know at what stage in- vestigations were." Minster was boss of John Stingemore who together with Father Anthony McSweeney, is charged with abusing young boys in their care during the 1980s. Both men are accused of together inde- cently assaulting an underage boy between November 1980 and July 1981 at Grafton Close. However, Minster said, "I have never met John Stingemore, if he had to enter this room I wouldn't recog- nise him." Richmond Council records show that the abuse was first reported 30 years ago by a boy in care, and his story was corroborated by a friend, but council staff and police decided no further action was required. Earland had also told investigators that Minster twice called up the file on this boy, an action Earland con- sidered unusual. However, Minster explained that the file was called up twice because files could not stay on his desk for more than 10 days and insisted, "I have never seen the file. Files couldn't be pulled up for more than 10 days because it caused problems for social workers and that is why it was up twice." Asked why he called up the file in the first place, Minster said that his role at the head of the social services was strictly related to policies, which ranged from elderly care to drug rehabilitation, adding that the file would have been called for research purposes. Minster also denied reports that he had been dismissed by the council or given a golden handshake. "I had been planning my retire- ment for months and I only left the very well paid job because of the political interference which started after the Liberals had overturned the Tory majority in Richmond." Expat denies involvement in Richmond paedophile ring cover-up Louis Minster says he's neither under investigation nor a witness in paedophile ring probe by Metropolitan Police earmarks more office and parking spaces Elm Guest House, where prominent people attended parties where witnesses have said they were lured into alcohol fuelled games Liberal MP Cyril Smith is reported to have been among those attending parties at Elm Guest House 'Never interrogated or called by the police' Louis Minster