The UK's Home Affairs Select Committee is questioning the panel of an inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse over the resignation of the investigation's third chairperson, Dame Lowell Goddard.
Dame Goddard stepped down after just 16 months in the role, saying in her resignation letter that her decision was as a result of the legacy of failure in the inquiry, which had been hard to shake off.
The New Zealand Judge however has been accused of being difficult to work with and using racist language, something that Dame Goddard has since denied.
Our UK correspondent Natalie Powell reports…
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In August Justice Goddard became the third person to quit the inquiry into child sexual abusle
She refused a request by the Home Affairs Select Committee to appear before them, but instead handed in a 9-page letter giving her reasons for resigning.
Dame Goddard's Successor Alexis Jay, now the fourth chair of the investigation has been quizzed by the Committee along with two panel members over Justice Goddard's tenure and the effectiveness of the inquiry.
Chairwoman Jay explained that Dame Goddard had preferred to work alone.
GRAB: ALEXIS JAY
These revelations follow several days of speculation over Justice Goddard's time as chair, including accusations that she had used racist language, with one claim that she said child abuse int he UK had been high because the country has so many Asian men.
Justice Goddard has denied these accusations.
But during the questioning of the inquiry's panel, Ivor Frank diplomatically said working with Justice Goddard had been challenging
GRAB: IVOR FRANK
Asked whether the inquiry would have failed if Justice Goddard had remained as Chair, the panel refused to answer yes or no, but it was revealed that they'd sought help to try to resolve any issues, according to panel member Ivor Frank
GRAB: IVOR FRANK
The Home Affairs Select Committee said that its questioning was to establish the effectiveness of the inquiry and not to engage in any gossip that had been reported.
But the investigation into child sexual abuse itself has been plagued with problems.
Prior to Justice Goddard's appointment, the inquiry had lost two previous chairs as a result of concerns they were too close to the establishment and potential conflicts.
While Dame Goddard's Successor Alexis Jay has also experienced controversy since taking up the role in August, with the lead council to the inquiry Ben emerson, suspended last month after reported conflicts with Jay.
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