Lord Advocate ‘overfishing’ “Black Fish” caper at expense of landing convictions for organised crime, drugs, rape, assault & gang land murder hits

Fish stories : Forget about fraud, rape, drugs, organised crime & murder hits, Fishing is where crime is at - Lord Advocate Frank Mulholland. IF DODGY press releases ever become an Olympic sport, the chances are Scotland’s Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) will win gold medals every time, especially in the spin department according to some, as yet again, the Black Fish caper is wheeled out to cover the usual copfs blunder machine composing of collapsed cases, dropped prosecutions of colleagues in the professions, lack of convictions for organised crime, drug dealing, fraud & the occasional failed prosecution of gang related murder hits.

In spite of claims of expected multi million pound seizures, the Crown Office have today issued a press release reporting that Fishermen caught up in the long running ‘Black Fish’ saga, (so often the subject of Crown Office briefings), have been ordered to hand over nearly £1.2million for undeclared landings.

However, while it is correct any illegal fishing is dealt with by the full force of the law, legal sources have accused the Crown Office of “overfishing” the undeclared landings fiasco in order to obtain positive headlines in the media while in actuality, the Lord Advocate’s staff are failing to catch bigger crooks & organised crime gangs causing substantially more damage to Scotland and operating on a significantly higher financial level than many realise.

One insider said : “Picking the easy cases to get a headline is no way to run a justice system.”

COPFS Press Release :

Fishermen ordered to pay nearly £1.2million for undeclared landings

At the High Court in Edinburgh today ten fishermen who had previously pled guilty to landing undeclared fish at Fresh Catch Ltd and Alexander Buchan Ltd between 2002 and 2005 were the subject of fines and confiscation orders totalling £1,194,447

The accused, their vessels and the amounts of the confiscation orders and fines are as below:

John Smith (DOB 14/03/1975) Master of the Alert – Confiscation order £150,000. Fine £40,000
James Smith (DOB 30/07/1957) Master of the Alert – Confiscation order £30,000. Fine £10,000
Allan Simpson (DOB 03/06/1969) Master of the Christina S – Confiscation order £361,621
Ernest Simpson (DOB 18/07/1947) Master of the Christina S - Confiscation order £362,826
Ian Buchan, DOB 13/03/1957, Master of the Quantus – Fine £100,000
James Duthie, DOB 24/04/1957, Master of the Sunbeam – Fine £35,000
Oswald McRonald, DOB 29/02/1948, Master of the Quantus – Fine £12,000
John MacLeod, DOB 27/02/1955, Master of the Prowess and the Charisma – Fine £50,000
Michael MacLeod, DOB 04/11/1978, Master of the Prowess – Fine £8,000.
Stephen Bellany, DOB 03/12/1962, Master of the Unity – Fine £35,000.

At the same court confiscation proceedings and sentence against a fish processing factory, Fresh Catch Ltd, have been continued to 5 September at the High Court in Edinburgh.

Speaking after the court hearing, Lindsey Miller, Head of the Serious and Organised Crime Division, and POCA Champion said: “These individuals used incredibly complex and devious methods to under declare their fish landings. They had no regard for the law or for the consequences such large scale overfishing would have on fish stocks, the environment or the hard working fishermen trying to make an honest living in the industry. There is no place in Scotland for those who want a lifestyle funded by crime and we will continue to work closely with law enforcement agencies to use Proceeds of Crime laws to make Scotland an increasingly hostile place for these criminals.”

Detective Superintendent Gordon Gibson of Grampian Police, who led the police investigation, said: "This is another example of individuals amassing huge sums of money by their serious and organised criminal acts.  Make no mistake these men made a conscious decision to commit these crimes and to continue to do so over a protracted period. The actions of these men and the others who have been brought before the court as a  result of the Operation Trawler investigation have tarnished not only themselves, but I am afraid also those other honest hard working fishermen who choose to make a living by perfectly legal means.”

Cephas Ralph, Head of Compliance at Marine Scotland said: "The activity in court today sees the end of another chapter of historic enforcement activity which brought about dramatic improvements in compliance and sustainability in the Scottish pelagic industry. “This kind of enforcement action is only taken when the necessary measures we have in place are ignored.  So while I regret that these prosecutions were necessary they have been essential to protect the reputations and livelihoods of the vast majority of Scottish fishermen who are law abiding. “These punishments send an unequivocal message to anyone who thinks that they can ignore fisheries regulations."

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."