County-born man in Jersey trial

A 68-year-old former Shropshire man was today at the centre of the investigation into child abuse in Jersey in the 1970s.

Claude James Donnelly appeared in court in St Helier today.

Bishop's Castle-born Donnelly is charged with rape, indecent assault and procuring an act of gross indecency.

Police arrested him yesterday and he was charged with the three offences last night.

The balding 68-year-old, wearing a grey fleece spoke only to confirm his name and reserved his plea on all three charges.

He was granted conditional bail and is next due to appear at the court on May 28 when the case is expected to be committed to the Jersey Royal Court.

A spokeswoman for Jersey police confirmed that Donnelly had relocated to Jersey a number of years ago.

The police spokeswoman said Donnelly, who was born on April 12, 1940, in Bishop's Castle, now lived at La Petite Route des Mielles, St Brelade.

The details of the charges against him relate to assaults on a young girl between 1971 and 1974, at Roseville Street, St Helier.

The spokeswoman said: "It is possible that further charges may follow."

More than 100 people have claimed they were abused at Haut de la Garenne, which closed in 1986.

On Friday two anthropologists and two archaeologists are to start a detailed excavation of cellar rooms three and four at the children's home.

Today the Mayor of Bishop's Castle Councillor Jim Gaffney said: "I am shocked to learn of this."