A BANNED paediatrician
whose evidence helped convict Sion Jenkins is being investigated by police for
his part in an alleged child assault.
Professor David Southall, who lives in Staffordshire, gave evidence at the
former deputy headmaster’s trial nine years ago in which he was found guilty
of murdering 13-year-old foster daughter Billie-Jo in 1998.
Mr Jenkins, whose parents live in Aberystwyth, was acquitted of the crime in
2005 after spending six years in jail. He was retried twice but a jury failed
to reach a verdict on both occasions.
South Wales Police say the incident involving Professor Southall relates to
practices employed by staff at Cardiff’s Heath hospital in the early ‘90s.
A spokesman said: “South Wales Police are currently conducting an
investigation into an allegation of assault involving a child being treated
within the University Hospital Wales in the Heath, Cardiff, in 1991.
“South Wales Police have a duty to investigate any such allegations as they
arise.
“The investigation is active and ongoing. It would be inappropriate to comment
on the investigation or any related individuals.”
A Force insider said: “He is implicated in that he was involved in the
treatment.” He added he was not the specific focus of the investigation.
Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust declined to comment.
Professor Southall was banned from child-protection work by the GMC in 2004
for his ‘high-handed intervention’ in the case of solicitor Sally Clark, who
was jailed in 1999 for murdering her two baby sons. He accused Mrs Clark’s
husband Stephen of killing the children after watching a Channel 4 Dispatches
show about the case. Mrs Clark was freed on appeal in 2003 and died in March.
In July his ban was extended for a year by a medical Fitness to Practice
panel.
In their findings statement they said: “The current conditions imposed on your
registration should remain in place for a further period of 12 months, to be
reviewed before the expiry of those conditions.
“The panel has applied the principle of proportionality, weighing the public
interest with your own interests. The panel has a duty to protect the public
interest.
“This includes the protection of patients, the maintenance of public
confidence in the medical profession, and the promotion of proper standards of
conduct and behaviour.”
In July Mr Jenkins, who now lives in the south of England, lodged a complaint
against Professor Southall and child psychiatrist Dr Arnon Bentovim for giving
‘false evidence’ at his first trial.
His solicitor Frances Swaine said: “I have been chasing them (the GMC). There
has been a little exchange of correspondence where they have asked for more
information, but there is no timetable set. They plan their own timetables and
are not influenced by my getting annoyed by delays.
“It is not up to me whether they prosecute a doctor as the result of a
complaint, they have to decide whether to bring a prosecution.
“I would hope to hear before the end of the year whether these prosecutions
are going to be brought.
“Like me he (Sion Jenkins) is cross that everything is taking so long but he
knew he would have to wait for it to go through its machination.”
Professor Southall is currently waiting for a separate GMC hearing to be
resumed on November 5 this year.
That was adjourned in December last year and will examine allegations he kept
secret medical files on children.
Family’s fury with
Social Services
Merthyr Express Dec 6 2007
