BBC Scotland chief drawn into Jimmy Savile abuse scandal

By ANGUS HOWARTH
Published on 12/10/2012 00:33

THE head of BBC Scotland was drawn into the scandal surrounding Sir Jimmy Savile last night, when it was announced he would answer Newsnight journalists’ questions on the dropping of the programme’s planned investigation into allegations of child abuse made against the late TV presenter.

BBC Scotland director Ken MacQuarrie has been appointed by director-general George Entwistle to explain why the broadcast was dropped last December. The discussion will be then fed back to the BBC Trust chairman, Lord Patten.

The corporation has insisted the decision to ditch the film was taken for “editorial reasons”. Mr MacQuarrie is also a member of the BBC management board.

A statement from the BBC press office said: “This is not a review. The director-general has simply asked Ken MacQuarrie to talk to members of the Newsnight team who had e-mailed him.”

The news followed fresh claims of sexual abuse against Savile, including allegations he preyed on children during hospital visits. Police forces said members of the public had made complaints.

They have been referred to Scotland Yard, which is leading the investigation. Tayside, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and North Yorkshire are the latest forces to say allegations have been made.

Claims have also emerged that Savile groped young patients at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Buckinghamshire, where he worked as a volunteer fundraiser, while one woman alleged she saw him molest a brain-damaged patient at Leeds General Infirmary.

Caroline Moore claims she was assaulted by Savile at the age of 13 while being treated for spinal injuries at Stoke Mandeville in 1971.

Mrs Moore, from Clarkston, East Renfrewshire, said: “I was outside a ward or a gym and he came out and just rammed his tongue down my throat.

“I told my family at the time; they didn’t take it seriously because he was such a high-profile character.”

June Thornton, a patient at Leeds General Infirmary in 1972, said she saw Savile abuse someone she thought was a brain-damaged girl. Ms Thornton said she told a nurse, but was ignored.