Aberdeen abuse probe cover-up haunts Scots authorities as Highlands cottage of accused child abuser Jimmy Savile daubed with pleas for “Justice for Hollie Greig”

Justice for Hollie Greig slogans on Savile cottage have curiously not featured in national media coverage A cottage situated in Glencoe the Scottish Highlands which belonged to the deceased BBC celebrity Sir Jimmy Savile OBE KCSG who is now accused of hundreds of acts of child abuse, has been vandalised for a second time, with the words “Justice for Hollie Greig” painted in orange along its exterior walls.

However, while earlier graffiti painted on the cottage was pictured in the national media, consisting of masonic symbols and slogans of “Jimmy the Beast”, campaigners have today pointed out to Scottish Law Reporter that all further reports on vandalism at the cottage, where it is alleged abuse took place, have refrained from any mention of graffiti mentioning the Hollie Greig case, which saw a journalist & campaigner jailed for handing out leaflets calling for an inquiry into allegations of abuse against downs syndrome victim Hollie Greig, and the existence of a paedophile group in the Aberdeen area.

Scottish Law Reporter covered journalist & anti-abuse campaigner Robert Green’s release from jail after he was sentenced to ONE YEAR in Aberdeen’s Craiginches Prison for committing e breach of the peace, by Sheriff Principal Edward Bowen. Reports on developments in the hugely expensive case also claimed Sheriff Bowen failed to declare relationships with key figures central to the case which included the now former Lord Advocate Dame Elish Angiolini DBE QC (née McPhilomy).

It was also revealed the case against the anti abuse campaigner ranked as Scotland’s most expensive ever Breach of the Peace trial which saw a record HALF A MILLION POUNDS spent on the investigation & trial of Mr Green, a case which tunnelled through the Scottish Courts system for over two years at huge cost to taxpayers.

A reminder of previous events in the trial of anti abuse campaigner Robert Green can be viewed in earlier coverage by Scottish Law Reporter HERE and further coverage of the Hollie Greig. Scottish Law Reporter recently published an investigation into the knighthood of Angiolini, apparently recommended by the Scottish Government. Dame Elish Angiolini was also appointed Ministerial complaints adviser to Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond. More recently, Dame Elish Angiolini was also appointed to the post of Principal of St Hugh’s College, Oxford.

Former Lord Advocate now Dame Elish Angiolini employed Levy McRae to go after anti abuse campaigner. Levy McRae are well known for a ‘colourful’ list of clients, including shamed former Glasgow City Council Boss & Cocaine addict Steven Purcell and former Lord Advocate, now Dame Elish Angiolini who took on Levy McRae to sue anti abuse campaigner Robert Green. Levy McRae proceeded to threaten several media outlets & journalists over their reporting of the case, covered by Scottish Law Reporter HERE & HERE. The Purcell scandal caused some newspapers to ‘evaluate’ their relationship with Levy McRae, details of which were featured in a report here : HERE. Levy McRae are also known to work for clients in the well known tax dodging haven of the Cayman Islands.

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill has ties to Levy Mcrae. As details of the Hollie Greig case began to be reported in the wider press, it emerged the Scottish Justice Secretary, Kenny MacAskill has personal links to LEVY MCRAE, the law firm employed by the then Lord Advocate Elish Angiolini in legal action over the abuse case allegations. Mr MacAskill has made no comment on the fact he served his apprenticeship at Levy McRae and also worked at the firm for a considerable time during his years as a solicitor before he entered politics. The revelations of MacAskill’s links to Levy McRae, the same law firm who represented Steven Purcell, were reported by Scottish Law Reporter at the time, HERE

£1/2 Million Breach of the Peace trial of anti-abuse campaigner Robert Green continues for second week at Stonehaven Sheriff Court, Aberdeen

A breach of the Peace trial against anti-abuse campaigner Robert Green is expected to last another week. Daily updates for readers seeking the very latest information on Scotland’s most expensive ever Breach of the Peace trial against ant-abuse campaigner Robert Green, can be viewed at Hollie Demands Justice.org. Mr Green, as is now widely known, was charged in February 2010 by officers from Grampian Police, apparently on the orders of the Crown Office in Edinburgh after he attempted to hand out leaflets documenting the claims surrounding the case of Hollie Greig, a downs syndrome victim who is alleged to have been abused by an Aberdeen based paedophile gang.

Little has apparently been done about the abuse claims, and the case against Mr Green appears to have become little more than the now usual Crown Office vendetta to protect its own image, turning into yet another rather costly case for taxpayers to fund, simply to beef up a few egos in undeserving high places.

Hard questions have been asked of Grampian Police & others, more of which can be read on the Hollie Demands Justice.org website.

A reminder of past events can be viewed in earlier coverage by Scottish Law Reporter HERE

Former Lord Advocate now Dame Elish Angiolini employed Cayman Islands hopping lawyers from Glasgow. Reporting on the background of the case, Robert Green was arrested by Police on 12th February 2010 in relation to a breach of the peace alleged to have been committed in Aberdeen when Mr Green attempted to hand out leaflets regarding the anti-abuse campaign. It was also revealed the then Lord Advocate, now Dame Elish Angiolini had employed private law firm Levy McRae to serve interdicts on Mr Green in connection with his campaign to ‘out’ alleged abusers of downs syndrome victim Hollie Greig. Glasogw law firm Levy McRae who later represented shamed former Glasgow City Council Boss & Cocaine addict Steven Purcell, proceeded to threaten several media outlets & journalists over their reporting of the case, covered by Scottish Law Reporter HERE & HERE. The Purcell scandal caused some newspapers to ‘evaluate’ their relationship with Levy McRae, details of which were featured in a report here : HERE

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill worked at, has ties to same law firm used by then Lord Advocate Elish Angiolini in interdict case. As details of the case began to be reported in the wider press, it emerged the Scottish Justice Secretary, Kenny MacAskill had links to LEVY MCRAE, the law firm employed by the then Lord Advocate Elish Angiolini in legal action against Mr Green. Mr MacAskill has made no comment on the fact he served his apprenticeship at Levy McRae and also worked at the firm for a considerable time during his years as a solicitor before he entered politics, while he is thought to have backed Dame Angiolini in her actions at the time. The revelations were reported by Scottish Law Reporter at the time, HERE.

Justice Secretary linked to Lord Advocate's lawyers after Police arrest journalist over reporting of Aberdeen Paedophile gang claims

Journalist & Broadcaster Robert Green was arrested by Grampian Police on Friday. SCOTLAND’s CROWN OFFICE are said to be heavily involved in the arrest in Aberdeen on Friday of the well known England based journalist & broadcaster Robert Green, who travelled to the Grampian area late Thursday to attend a public protest against the lack of action by Scotland’s law enforcement agencies to prosecute identified individuals in an Aberdeen based paedophile gang, names which include key members of Scotland’s legal establishment and even a local Sheriff, who stand accused of serial abuse of disabled victims, including downs syndrome girl, Hollie Greig.

Grampian Police arrested journalist on ‘breach of the peace’. Grampian Police apparently swooped on Mr Green before he was even able to attend Friday’s planned protest, taking him into custody earlier in the morning on a charge of breach of the peace, which Mr Green had been detained on, until his appearance tomorrow (Monday) at Aberdeen Sheriff court, where ironically, Mr Green will be taken before a colleague of a Sheriff who was identified by one of the abuse victims as being an alleged member of the paedophile gang at the centre of the case, who are accused of abusing disabled victims & also passing vulnerable children around their ranks.

Lord Advocate & Crown Office censored online legal publication “The Firm” from reporting on abuse case. Scottish Law Reporter have covered the story of Hollie Greig on previous occasions, HERE, secondly, revealing Scots Law magazine “The Firm” were censored by the Crown Office HERE, thirdly, revealing that a private law firm had been tasked by the Lord Advocate to threaten & censor media investigations of the case HERE and most recently, where the Crown Office announced they would not prosecute the case, HERE

Senior Levy McRae partner Peter Watson acted against media outlets for the Lord Advocate. The case alarmed Crown Office officials and even the Lord Advocate of Scotland so much, a heavyweight law firm based in Glasgow, Messrs Levy McRae were brought in to threaten any media outlet who dare report on the allegations or identify anyone named by the victim and her mother, or involved the Grampian Police investigation. Mr Green recently alleged the investigation carried out by Grampian was very far from incomplete, apparently having omitted to interview many or all of the chief suspects, and victims.

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill linked to Lord Advocate’s choice of lawyers. Amazingly, it can now be revealed the Scottish Government’s current Justice Secretary, Kenny MacAskill has long standing ties to Levy McRae, the same law firm used by the Lord Advocate to threaten media publication of the Hollie Greig case. Mr MacAskill is now known to have served his apprenticeship at Levy McRae and also worked at the firm for a considerable time during his years as a solicitor.

Levy McRae sent out legal threats to websites, newspapers, & online forums. Mr MacAskill could not be contacted for any comment on developments in the case, and officials said he would not answer any questions over his previous involvement with Levy McRae. However, several MSPs alerted to the fact the Lord Advocate has used the same firm which once employed the Justice Secretary himself, have now vowed to investigate the goings on in the Hollie Greig case. An aide to an MSP today said there may well be a problem for the Justice Secretary since the Lord Advocate has used his old law firm, throwing up the question of conflict of interest and whether the intervention against the media by Levy McRae “may have implied Scottish Government support for the law firm’s work on behalf of the Lord Advocate.”

Holly Greig with her mother Anne – forced to flee to England after abuse. Since the journalist’s arrest by Grampian Police on Friday, reports of Mr Green, and his work investigating the allegations into the Aberdeen based paedophile ring have spread around the internet, along with a sequence of video clips of a talk the journalist gave to audiences on his work and the allegations into the abuse which had taken place in the Aberdeen area, leaving many to question why Scotland’s Crown Office had stamped on any chance of mounting prosecutions against people well known in the area who have been identified by one of the abuse victims, Hollie Greig, who, despite no one being charged after a Police investigation into the abuse claims, received £13,500 compensation (hush money ? – Ed) from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority in April of 2009.

Hollie has been described by a Grampian detective inspector who himself gave evidence, as “a truthful witness to the best of her ability and an entirely innocent victim”, and medical evidence has apparently verified that Hollie has been abused.

Grampian Police are now known to have received hundreds of calls from people all over the United Kingdom and around the world, concerned for Mr Green’s wellbeing. It has also been revealed today that Anne Greig, Hollie’s mother has not been allowed to speak to Mr Green to establish if he is ok, or has the necessary legal representation for his court appearance on Monday.

The video clips, well worth a look while they still exist, can be viewed on You Tube at the following link : JusticeforHollie

Aberdeen’s Press & Journal newspaper reported on Mr Green’s arrest :

‘Sex abuse’ family’s legal adviser arrested

CAMPAIGNER WAS GOING TO HAND OUT LEAFLETS
BY RYAN CRIGHTON

Published: 13/02/2010

The legal adviser to the family of a disabled woman who claims she was abused by a paedophile ring as a child was arrested yesterday as he made his way to the centre of Aberdeen to hand out leaflets.

Political hopeful Robert Green represents the mother of Hollie Greig, a 30-year-old woman with Down’s Syndrome who says she was sexually assaulted by a Scottish sheriff, who is still serving, and a senior Grampian Police officer who is now dead.

Last night, 63-year-old Mr Green was charged with breach of the peace. He is expected to appear at Aberdeen Sheriff Court on Monday. It is understood he was arrested as he made his way to Union Street, where he was going to tell people about Hollie’s case and his plans to contest the Aberdeen South parliamentary seat as an independent candidate.

Mr Green, of Cheshire, had been staying at a bed and breakfast in King Street. He was expected in Union Street near the Marks and Spencer store at 10.30am but never arrived. Other “injustice” campaigners, including Aberdeen man David Emslie, formerly of Nigg Kirk Road, were waiting for Mr Green and said they were concerned for his safety when he did not appear.

Grampian Police later confirmed Mr Green was in custody. A spokesman said: “A 63-year-old man has been charged in connection with a breach of the peace. “As this case is now active, it would be inappropriate to make any other comment.” Police, with the consent of Mr Green, searched his room in King Street and are believed to have left with documents belonging to him.

Hollie claims she was abused for 14 years from the age of six and has given police the names of some of the men she says assaulted her. The 30-year-old and her mother, Anne, have been campaigning for criminal proceedings since 2000.

The abuse is alleged to have taken place in Aberdeen, and Hollie and her mother claim to have made a statement at Bucksburn police station in July that year naming those involved. The family moved to Shropshire and two Grampian Police officers travelled to Shrewsbury in September last year to re-interview Hollie at a special facility.

Last month, the Crown Office revealed there was not enough reliable evidence to proceed with the case.

A spokesman said at the time: “Historical allegations of sexual abuse made by a 30-year-old woman in Shropshire have been thoroughly investigated by police. “Crown counsel have considered all the available information and decided that there is insufficient credible, reliable and admissible evidence to justify criminal proceedings in respect of these allegations.”

Despite no charges ever being brought, Hollie received £13,500 compensation from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority in April last year. It is understood that followed evidence from a Grampian detective inspector, who described Hollie as “a truthful witness to the best of her ability and an entirely innocent victim”. Mrs Greig, 58, claims her daughter has experienced nightmares and panic attacks since she first told her about the alleged abuse.

Lord Advocate Angiolini’s 'office' in 2001 was forced to apologise over 10 year old rape victim after failures to prosecute accused within time limits

Office of Elish Angiolini as Procurator Fiscal, Aberdeen in 2001 had to apologise over trial failure. While the Hollie Greig case continues to simmer throughout the Scottish justice system with the recent arrest of well known journalist & broadcaster Robert Green after he travelled to Aberdeen to launch a protest & campaign for justice for Hollie, it transpires that dejavu may well be at play, as the Telegraph Newspaper reports from 2001 when the ‘office of’ the current Lord Advocate, then the regional Procurator Fiscal in for Grampian, Highlands & Islands Elish Angiolini, was forced to apologise over the failure of the prosecution of a man alleged to have raped a 10 year old girl.

The 10 year old girl received a letter of apology for her rape, from a Fiscal Depute, rather than the Procurator Fiscal in charge of the office. The case against the accused was dismissed by Sheriff Graeme Buchanan, reports the article in the Telegraph newspaper.

It has also emerged that similar circumstances occurred in the case of a 7 year old boy, who was also raped and again the local Procurator Fiscal’s office failed to prosecute the rapist again after the same time delays prevented the case reaching court before 110 days, according to Ms Angiolini’s instructions.

The Telegraph newspaper reports :

Procurator apologises to girl, 10 in sex case

Procurator apologises to girl, 10 in sex case

By Tara Womersley
Published: 12:00AM BST 26 May 2001

A 10-YEAR-OLD girl has received a letter of apology from the procurator fiscal’s office after the case of a man, who allegedly sexually abused her, collapsed because of the time it took to come to court.

The child, who is receiving counselling, told her parents three years ago that she had been abused by a 19-year-old male relative. But the case only reached Aberdeen Sheriff Court this month and was dismissed by Sheriff Graeme Buchanan because he felt it had not come to trial within a reasonable time.

In a letter to the girl, Sandra McRobert, principal procurator fiscal depute for Aberdeen, wrote: “Everyone knew that you would tell the court what happened to you if you had to, but I also know from mum that you were very scared of having to come to court. “

She said: “You have been very brave over all this and I am very sorry that because grown-ups made mistakes, you are angry because you feel (the accused) has not been punished by the courts.”

The girl’s family are calling for an inquiry by the Lord Advocate and investigating whether they can bring a private prosecution against the alleged attacker. George Mathers, their solicitor, said: “I believe the person accused had admitted his guilt to officers. It is a very simple and straightforward case, which should have been given priority.”

The girl’s father said: “My daughter feels guilt and thinks no one believes her. How do you tell a 10-year-old the system has let her down? The last three years have been traumatising for us all. My daughter’s personality was completely changed after the event, but her outgoing and playful nature has helped her to cope.”

This week it also emerged that a case of a seven-year-old boy who was allegedly raped had collapsed because of delays in bringing it to court in Aberdeen. Elish Angiolini, regional procurator fiscal for Grampian, Highlands and Islands, said that she had instructed Grampian police to treat all child witness cases as custody cases, which have to be processed within 110 days.

Crown Office refuse to release Grampian Police paedophile investigation papers amid claims media were misled over Hollie Greig case

Abuse allegations made by Hollie Greig were subject of misleading public statements by Crown Office. SCOTLAND’S CROWN OFFICE is facing claims it issued deliberately misleading statements over a decision by Stephen McGowan, the Aberdeen Procurator Fiscal not to prosecute a group of identified individuals including a serving Sheriff and Police Officers after Grampian Police investigated allegations of rape & abuse by Hollie Greig, a down’s syndrome woman who was forced to flee with her mother to England after the horrific events which took place in Aberdeen, Scotland.

Lord Advocate Elish Angiolini used Glasgow law firm Levy McRae to silence media publication of allegations of involvement. The allegations, relating to abuse carried out by an Aberdeen based ‘paedophile gang’, made as far back as 2000 have recently seen a number of successful attempts by private law firms such as Levy MCrae solicitors of Glasgow, acting on behalf of Elish Angiolini, the Lord Advocate, to censor website content and reporting of certain parts of Ms Greig’s allegations of abuse.

Aberdeen Procurator Fiscal’s letter to victim’s mother explaining lack of prosecution. In a letter from Aberdeen’s Procurator Fiscal, Stephen McGowan to Anne Greig, Hollie’s mother, Mr McGowan stated : “In September of this year, your daughter Hollie was interviewed by officers of Grampian Police in Shropshire and provided a statement in which she alleged that she had been sexually abused. Prior to September, other allegations had been made both by Hollie and by you on her behalf. Having reviewed all of the circumstances of Hollie's case, including Hollie's statements and all other available evidence, a report was prepared for the consideration of Crown Counsel. The conclusion is that there is insufficient evidence to allow criminal proceedings to be taken against any person in respect of these allegations.”

Allegations against Lord Advocate which Scots Law publication “The Firm” printed, then were forced to apologise over, were also mentioned. Curiously, Mr McGowan went on in his letter to detail allegations “made by others” of alleged involvement by the current Lord Advocate Elish Angiolini, in the case, claiming decisions taken in Hollie’s case were taken before or after Ms Angiolini’s time as Regional Procurator Fiscal in Grampian. Mr McGowan continued : “During the course of this investigation, it has been alleged by others that the Lord Advocate, Elish Angiolini QC, had in some way covered up Hollie's allegations. These allegations are unfounded and this has been supported by a careful scrutiny of the case. All key decisions in relation to prosecution in Hollie's case in 2000 and 2001 were taken before or after the Lord Advocate's time as Regional Procurator Fiscal in Grampian and were taken by other senior prosecutors, not the Lord Advocate. In addition, the Lord Advocate has not had any involvement in the recent decision by Crown Counsel that there should be no criminal proceedings.”

A legal insider said he found the references to the Lord Advocate in such a letter explaining a lack of prosecution in an abuse case, to be “unusual”, and questioned why it was included when “others” had made the allegations in the first place.

Crown Office issued ‘alternative version’ to newspapers over reasons why no prosecution took place. To cloud matters even more, it has now been revealed by several journalists the Crown Office issued statements to the press which appeared to contradict the terms of Mr McGowan’s letter to the family over why no prosecutions took place. Where Mr McGowan simply claimed there was “insufficient evidence to allow criminal proceedings to be taken”, the Crown Office’s media unit issued a statement which many claim appears to be an attempt to undermine the events documented in the victim’s allegations, stating : "Historical allegations of sexual abuse made by a 30 year old woman in Shropshire have been thoroughly investigated by Grampian Police. Crown Counsel have considered all the available information and decided that there is insufficient credible, reliable and admissible evidence to justify criminal proceedings in respect of these allegations."

A spokesman for the family issued a statement contending “there had not been a thorough investigation carried out by Grampian Police” and went onto state several key individuals had apparently not been interviewed by the Police during their ‘investigation’ of Ms Greig’s allegations.

A legal insider said he was concerned the questionable differences between what the Procurator Fiscal had told the family in terms of why there had been no prosecution, compared with what the Crown Office were saying publicly on the case, amounted to an attempt to mislead the victim, the media and the public.

Crown Office refused FOI request for investigation documents. In an attempt to verify the content of the Grampian Police investigation, reporters, and the victim’s family had made Freedom of Information requests to the Aberdeen Procurator Fiscal’s office for copies of documents gathered during the Police investigation, only to be told by the Procurator Fiscal he had decided to use a public interest exemption, thus refusing to release any documentation under FOI legislation. Mr McGowan said : “I have concluded that to disclose the information which you have requested would jeopardise the freedom and candour with which the police communicate with the Procurator Fiscal and the consideration of that information by police and prosecutors. I have therefore decided that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information. On that basis I am refusing to release the information you have requested.”

The Crown Office have so far refused to make any further comment on the case, however a spokesman for the family has said there could be legal action over recent statements issued by the Crown which are being seen as an attempt to undermine Ms Greig’s traumatic experiences and the expectation that allegations of criminal acts reported to the Police should be dealt with according to law.

Lord Advocate Angiolini made complaint to Press Complaints Commission over abuse claims report by Scots law title “The Firm”

Lord Advocate Elish Angiolini filed complaint with PCC over abuse claims publicity. ELISH ANGIOLINI, Scotland’s Lord Advocate is reported to have made a complaint to the Press Complaints Commission over Scots legal publication “The Firm” who recently reported on the case of Hollie Greig, a downs syndrome girl who filed reports with Grampian Police over claims she, together with other victims, was abused by an Aberdeen based paedophile gang which the media have reported contains a serving Sheriff and other key figures in Scotland’s legal establishment, including Police officers.

Scots legal publication “The Firm” were censored by legal threats from Lord Advocate. The complaint to the Press Complaints Commission is being widely seen as a tactical move on the part of the Lord Advocate, to warn other media outlets & newspapers from re-printing the allegations made by Hollie & her mother, Anne. However, while the PCC complaint deals with allegations printed by “The Firm”, it gives no answers to medical evidence now disclosed confirming Ms Greig was abused, and neither does it account for a substantial payout to Hollie from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority, despite there being no charges to-date against anyone identified as being part of the paedophile gang.

A source at the Press Complaints Commission said they could not release any documentation regarding the complaint, and confirmed the PCC was exempt from Freedom of Information legislation, making it difficult to establish exactly why the Lord Advocate felt it necessary to file a complaint with the PCC through her private lawyers, identified as Glasgow law firm Levy McRae rather than make the complaint in a personal capacity.

It transpired the complaint made by Ms Angiolini through her lawyers was settled in a matter of hours after “The Firm” printed a retraction & apology, which we covered HERE

Press Complaints Commission : Ms Elish Angiolini (Complainant) v The Firm (Publication)

Complainant Name: Ms Elish Angiolini

Clauses Noted: 1

Publication: The Firm

Complaint:

Ms Elish Angiolini, the Lord Advocate of Scotland, complained through Levy & McRae Solicitors of Glasgow that an online article relating to comments made by the mother of Hollie Greig was inaccurate and misleading.

Resolution:

The complaint was resolved when the magazine published the following text online:

An article of 17 November reported that Anne Greig, mother of Hollie Greig - reportedly abused by an alleged paedophile ring said to include a serving Sheriff and a now deceased police officer - had called for an investigation into the role played by Lord Advocate Elish Angiolini, then a Regional Procurator Fiscal, in the decision not to prosecute.

We have been asked by the Lord Advocate to make clear the following: there was no allegation of a paedophile ring contained in the police report to the Procurator Fiscal at that time; that there was no allegation about a Sheriff or a policeman in the report; that the decision not to prosecute was made before the Lord Advocate took up post as Regional Procurator Fiscal and on the basis that there was insufficient evidence in law; and that she was unaware of the claim at the time and has never had any involvement in the case. We are happy to make the position clear and did not intend to suggest that she had acted in any way improperly.

At the time of publication, the specific details regarding the timeline of the decision not to prosecute, although requested, were not provided by the Crown Office. This information was supplied after publication. Having been furnished with the relevant information, we would like to apologise to the Lord Advocate for any distress that may have been caused.

‘The Firm’ censored, now apologise over Lord Advocate 'allegations' in Hollie Greig abuse scandal as Police investigate Aberdeen Paedophile ring

Victims of abuse : Hollie Greig and her mother, Anne. LEGAL THREATS against newspapers and online media over the reporting of allegations of serious & prolonged abuse dating back over a decade, made by former Aberdeen resident Hollie Greig against senior legal figures allegedly involved in a Paedophile ring based in Aberdeen, yesterday, resulted in online investigations & reports into the scandal being pulled after intervention from the most senior levels of Scotland's legal establishment.

Scots legal publication "The Firm" was forced to drop abuse report involving big name legal figure

The allegations, made by Down's Syndrome sufferer Hollie Greig against several identified individuals, which, according to Aberdeen's Press & Journal newspaper include a Sheriff & senior Police Officer, also identified a big name in Scotland's legal establishment who is alleged to have been involved in the investigation, but who now cannot be identified for legal reasons due to a clamp placed on reporting the story by Scotland's Crown Office.

Our earlier coverage of the abuse story is here : Down’s syndrome victim identifies Sheriff & Police in Aberdeen Paedophile ring as Grampian Police investigate claims of historical abuse

Grampian Police are said to have interviewed Hollie Greig during September of this year as they pursued their investigation, although it transpires from media reports still available that Hollie and her mother claim to have made a statement at Bucksburn police station in July 2000 naming a senior police officer, who has since died, and a Sheriff who is still serving on the bench.

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill refused to comment on Hollie Greig's case. While supporters & friends of Hollie's family have sent out pleas for help to many of Holyrood's MSPs, including Brian Adam who, documents now reveal was involved in assisting Hollie & her mother while they lived in Aberdeen, Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill refused to make any comment on the case, instead referring media interest to Scotland's Crown Office. When enquiries were made of the Crown Office for their reaction to the abuse allegations and certain details, the Crown Office issued a release which contained a threat of defamation proceedings against anyone who quoted two reports published on 17 November in one of Scotland’s legal publications, “The Firm” magazine.

Today, “The Firm” retract their allegations against the Lord Advocate. In a breaking development today, “The Firm” have printed a full retraction of their claims, apologising to Scotland’s Lord Advocate, Elish Angiolini. The Firm’s editor Steven Raeburn said:. “The firm never believed that the Lord Advocate acted in any way improperly in this matter, which is of significant public interest and was reported by us in good faith “However, there were details relating to the timeline of the decision not to prosecute the alleged abusers that were unclear, which we believed required explanation that was not immediately forthcoming from the Crown Office. “We have now been furnished with that information and accept unreservedly that she had no involvement with this matter – and apologise if she believed we were suggesting otherwise.”

Now, one might think this sudden secrecy on alleged sex offenders and paedophiles in Scotland seems a bit out of place, considering over the past few days we have seen yesterday’s big announcement by Central Scotland Police they had collected up to 2000 email addresses in an investigation into online predators targeting children for abuse and a recent statement by Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill in the Scottish Parliament on sex offenders

Kenny MacAskill’s statement on Sex Offenders to Parliament, so far nothing on Hollie Greig …

Parts 2 & 3

Down’s syndrome victim identifies Sheriff & Police in Aberdeen Paedophile ring as Grampian Police investigate claims of historical abuse

BIG NAMES in Scottish legal circles have been identified as alleged abusers by a down’s syndrome woman who claims she was abused as a child by a paedophile ring based in Aberdeen which, according to the Press & Journal newspaper includes a named Sheriff and a senior Police Officer.

Grampian Police have so far not given a full Press Release on the case, despite being pressed for reaction, and there are rumours the Crown Office has issued guidelines to newspaper editors on what cannot be published about the case, which all starkly contrasts with yesterday’s big announcement by Central Scotland Police they had collected up to 2000 email addresses in an investigation into online predators targeting children for abuse and a recent statement by Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill in the Scottish Parliament on sex offenders which you can watch on video, HERE

So .. silence on some cases of abuse which include allegations against members of the judiciary & law enforcement services, but big public announcements on others … now there’s got to be something wrong with that policy ….

The Press & Journal report :

DOWN'S SYNDROME WOMAN NAMES PAEDOPHILE RING

Hollie tells police she was abused by sheriff

Published: 18/11/2009

Grampian Police have reinterviewed a disabled woman who claims she was abused as a child by an Aberdeen paedo-phile ring which included a senior police officer and a leading Scottish sheriff.

Hollie Greig, 29, who has Down’s Syndrome, claims she was abused for 14 years from the age of six, and has given police the names of some of the men she says assaulted her.

Hollie and her mother, Anne, have been campaigning since 2000 when police were first informed of the alleged abuse, for criminal proceedings to be taken against those she says were involved.

The abuse is alleged to have taken place in Aberdeen, and Hollie and her mother claim to have made a statement at Bucksburn police station in July 2000 naming a senior police officer, who has since died, and a sheriff who still serves.

The Press and Journal knows the identities of both men but has decided not to make them public at this stage.

No charges have ever been brought, although Hollie received £13,500 compensation from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority in April this year.

It is understood that followed evidence from a Grampian detective inspector who described Hollie as “a truthful witness to the best of her ability and an entirely innocent victim”.

Last night, Mrs Greig, 58, said her daughter has had nightmares and suffered panic attacks since she first told her mother about the alleged abuse nine years ago.

“We’ve been battling this for a long time now and we are angry with the way things were handled right from the start,” she said.

“We were practically forced out of our home in Aberdeen and fled to Shropshire when this whole thing came to light. During these past nine years myself and Hollie have been called liars and had to put up with constant insults but we will continue to fight despite the endless brick walls we hit.”

Mrs Greig said she ordered two psychological reports on Hollie to dismiss claims she had invented the allegations.

“Hollie was asked to draw pictures and describe sexual acts to see if there was any signs she might be lying.

“Both reports, carried out by two separate doctors, came back saying that 100% she was telling the truth and had been sexually abused.”

Mrs Greig said Hollie’s campaign would continue until justice has been done. “All Hollie wants is justice. She says this has ruined her childhood. She doesn’t trust anyone and I’m the only person she can be around for any length of time.”

Mrs Greig said two officers from Grampian Police visited Hollie in September and spent three-and-a-half hours interviewing her at a special facility in Shrewsbury.

Hollie and her mother, who moved to Shropshire to escape the alleged abuse, have enlisted a group of high-profile supporters, including, it is understood, singer Annie Lennox, to support their demand for a prosecution.

Mrs Greig claims that two of the alleged abusers moved to Portugal a number of years ago and that she went to her local police station in Shrewsbury to pass on that information when news broke of the kidnapping of Madeleine McCann.

Madeleine, who was three at the time, was kidnapped from her family’s holiday apartment at Praia da Luz, in the Algarve, in 2006. Police believe she was taken by a paedophile.

One of Hollie’s supporters wrote to the Crown Office in Edinburgh earlier this year querying the decision not to prosecute and received a reply from Andrew McIntyre, Head of Victims and Diversity, setting out the criteria for determining whether to bring charges.

His reply suggested that, in Hollie’s case, the decision was based on the lack of independent corroboration. Mr McIntyre gave an assurance that police were continuing to investigate “aspects of the case” and said that the ongoing inquiries prevented him from commenting further.

Grampian Police last night confirmed the force was investigating an allegation of historic sex abuse.

A Crown Office spokes-woman said late last night: "We have not received any report from the police.

“If we do receive a report it will be carefully considered in due course."