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The
Christchurch Civic Creche Case |
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The detective
in charge of the Last November,
at a select committee and in the debating chamber, MPs expressed doubt about
the conduct and outcome of the crèche investigation and in particular the
propriety of the officer in charge of the case, Colin Eade, having had
relationships with the mothers of two child complainants. Mr Eade's
response, presented to Parliament yesterday by Speaker Doug Kidd, is only the
third time the procedure has been used since the process became available in
1995. In November,
after the airing of a 20/20 television documentary, Labour's Phil Goff raised
in Parliament his doubts about the guilt of Peter Ellis, who is midway
through a 10-year jail sentence for child abuse. In particular,
Mr Goff raised questions centred on Mr Eade having had intimate relationships
with the mothers of two of the crèche children, and having suffered from
psychological difficulties. Mr Eade's
response was presented yesterday under a section of Parliament's Standing
Orders, which allows people who consider their reputation has been damaged in
Parliament to apply to the Speaker for their response to be included in the
parliamentary record. Mr Eade's
successful application is only the third to have been accepted -- the first
was from Applefields and the second from Tobacco Institute executive director
Michael Thompson. Mr Eade's
response said that at the start of the inquiry he had been in the child abuse
unit for 18 months, which was stressful and he was due for a break. The inquiry
into the crèche was "very difficult and stressful, not only for me but
for all investigators who joined the inquiry team". "I later
left the police after 19 years' service because of a condition arising from
the stress. I never wanted to leave but I had no choice." Mr Eade said
he did not leave till the inquiry was over. He said that
at no time during the inquiry was he involved in a relationship with anyone
associated with the case. "During
the four years that followed I had relationships with two single mothers who
had children at the civic crèche. "One
parent had been part of the prosecution case but didn't live in "The other
parent had no part in the prosecution." * Police visit crèche p11 |
