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'CULTURE OF SECRECY'

Whitehall officials close to PM ‘covered up racist comments of child abuse probe chief Dame Lowell Goddard’

Dame Lowell Goddard allegedly said the UK has a problem with paedophilia due to a large population of Asian men

OFFICIALS close to PM Theresa May have been accused of covering up racist remarks allegedly made by the ex-head of Britain’s biggest child abuse inquiry.

Dame Lowell Goddard is said to have told colleagues that the UK has so many paedophiles “because it has so many Asian men”.

 The departing head of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse is at the centre of controversy over alleged remarks that Britain had a lot of paedophiles as there were so many Asian men in the country
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The departing head of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse is at the centre of controversy over alleged remarks that Britain had a lot of paedophiles as there were so many Asian men in the countryCredit: Getty Images

that senior figures close to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse made the claim.

Dame Lowell, 67, is also accused of complaining of having to travel 50 miles from London to see a white face.

The New Zealander quit the £500,000-a-year post as inquiry head in August after 18 months.

She was the third chairwoman to leave.

 Theresa May opened the Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse as Home Secretary in 2014
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Theresa May opened the Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse as Home Secretary in 2014Credit: Getty Images
 Three chiefs have left the Inquiry since its inception, including Dame Lowell Goddard
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Three chiefs have left the Inquiry since its inception, including Dame Lowell GoddardCredit: Getty Images

The IICSA was opened by Mrs May, then the Home Secretary, in 2014.

She faced flak for keeping on Dame Lowell after complaints over her behaviour.

One insider blamed a “culture of secrecy right through the organisation” under the judge and said she behaved “like a tyrant”.

It is understood the judge was warned by a senior official about racist language. The Home Office declined to comment.

The Dame’s lawyers deny she made any racist remarks or displayed rage.

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