Man charged in connection with historical abuse enquiry

Tuesday 29 April 2008

RELEASED TO MEDIA AT 19.30 PM ON TUESDAY 29 APRIL 2008

The States of Jersey Police can confirm that following his arrest earlier today, a 68 year old man has been charged this evening (Tuesday 29 March) in connection with offences relating to the ongoing Historical Abuse Enquiry.

Claude James Donnelly (born on 12 April 1940, in Bishop’s Castle) of La Petite Route des Mielles, St Brelade, has been charged with the following offences:

One count of rape

One count of indecent assault

One count of procuring an act of gross indecency

The details of the charges are as follows:

On a day between 23 March 1971 and 23 March 1972, at Roseville Street, St Helier, raping Witness A, a 12 year old female child.

On a day between 23 March 1971 and and 23 March 1974, in the Island of Jersey, indecently assaulting Witness A, a girl aged between 12 and and 15 years of age.

On a day between 23 March 1971 and 23 March 1974, in the Island of Jersey, procuring the commission by a child known as Witness A, a girl aged between 12 and 15 years, of an act of gross indecency on him.

Claude James Donnelly will appear before the Magistrate to answer these charges on Wednesday 30 April 2008 at 10 am. He has currently reserved his plea to all three charges, and he will be remanded in Police custody overnight tonight (Tuesday 29 April).

It is possible that further charges may follow.