A Missed Opportunity

A new report which describes Jimmy Savile as  "a prolific, predatory sex offender" has found that the notorious abuser could have been brought to book while alive had police and prosecutors been more diligent in their handling of complaints.   Alison Levitt QC, legal adviser to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), in her report claimed that neither police nor prosecutors took the claims against Savile sufficiently seriously. Had proper procedures been in place, then in at least three cases the former BBC personality would likely have faced prosecution. 

Savile who died in 2011 aged 84 has been the source of much controversy since a recent flurry of allegations have come to the surface about his predatory behaviour. According to the Irish Times 

Friday's report said he had committed 214 criminal offences including 34 rapes or serious sexual assaults across the country. Of his victims, 73 per cent were under 18 and 82 per cent were female. The oldest was 47 and the youngest just 8.

The BBC has again apologised.

Savile meeting Taoiseach Charles Haughey in 1980

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