THE publication of the delayed report on the violent abuse perpetuated by John Smyth was further set back this week, after a survivor withdrew his co-operation, saying that the most recent draft represented a “mere shadow” of the case.
The victim, generally known as Graham Jones, told the Church Times on Thursday that he had been given permission to read a draft of the report under a technique of fact-checking, and is tied by a confidentiality agreement. He went on to say, nevertheless, that “The draft that I even have seen is a mere shadow of what I might expect after almost five years’ work.
“It is deficient in so many regards and there are multiple ‘gaps’ where testimony has not been gathered, and the story has not been comprehensively told.”
The report, currently, was “not fit for purpose”, he said. Before withdrawing his contribution, he had asked the Church’s National Safeguarding Team (NST) for the report back to be externally assessed, which had not been agreed to, he said.
Keith Makin was commissioned to review the Smyth case in 2019 (News, 16 August 2019), after allegations had been reported by Channel 4 News two years previously (News, 10 February 2017), when Smyth was still alive. He died in 2018, before he could possibly be questioned.
The publication of the Makin review has been put back repeatedly, after initially being expected in May 2020 (News, 6 August 2021; News, 11 August 2023). Last 12 months, Mr Makin’s discovery and disclosure to the police of latest information regarding Smyth led to an extra delay (News, 18 April 2023).
Mr Makin recently denied that these delays were due to pressure from the Church of England (News, 19 January): people criticised within the review were expected to be given a likelihood to reply later this month (a process generally known as “Maxwellisation”), he said, with a view to publication soon afterwards.
The Church Times understands that Mr Jones has written to the NST this week, informing them of his decision to withdraw. He has refused consent for his data, testimony, and documents for use, and has asked for them to be faraway from the review.
This, he said, would erase a five-year period, 2012-17, because his was the one testimony from this time. Mr Jones first reported the abuse in 2012, within the diocese of Ely.
He said on Thursday: “I’m aware my decision will cause further delays. I even have only ever wanted a full, hard-hitting review that serves truth and justice. That shouldn’t be what I even have read. I even have tried to get external assessment of the state of the review, but that has been refused. If a Reference Group had been in place ab initio, we’d not be on this position.”
A spokesperson for the NST said: “We are truly sorry that a survivor of John Smyth feels they are not any longer in a position to contribute to the review, but we respect their decision. Their concerns and issues raised are being taken very seriously and we’re aware of the effect of the delays on all those that have come forward and we proceed to supply support through an independent advocacy service.
“The reviewer is aware of the choice, and we’re in ongoing contact to make sure the following stages of the review can progress as agreed initially of the 12 months.”
Mr Makin told the Church Times that he couldn’t comment before he had a fuller understanding of the situation.
