Escape to the grave

[hughnique]

Yet another comes out of the woodwork, Al Fayed now allegedly a serial sex abuser, surely too many victims to be a hoax. Evidently the police at the time were, and have been, aware of allegations, but chose not to do anything, again with the complicity of the CPS. Jimmy Saville all over again and striking similarities as to who was running the show at the DPP.
How do they manage to slip through the net, don't tell me it is a case of palm greasing, surely not. I'm a bit confused as to how the procedure would run as to holding the current owners to blame, surely they can't be personally responsible for it all.

[Blaze]

Reading several different articles about Harrods under Fayed, it sounds as if his reputation was pretty well-known. It seems people were afraid to speak out, even to discuss among themselves for fear of being overheard, rooms being bugged etc.

“He was vile,” says one of the women, Sophia, who worked as his personal assistant from 1988 to 1991. She says he tried to rape her more than once.

But she stayed there for 3 years which surprises me - I couldn't stay working for someone I didn't like or get on with.

The Harrods owner would regularly tour the department store's vast sales floors and identify young female assistants he found attractive, who would then be promoted to work in his offices upstairs - former staff, male and female, told us.
The assaults would be carried out in Harrods’ offices, in Fayed's London apartment, or on foreign trips - often in Paris at the Ritz hotel, which he also owned, or his nearby Villa Windsor property.
At Harrods, other former staff members told us it was clear what was happening.
“We all watched each other walk through that door thinking, ‘you poor girl, it's you today’ and feeling utterly powerless to stop it,” Alice, not her real name, says.

It's not easy to speak out about any form of harassment, particularly if it involves someone rich and well-known. These women were probably scared stiff of disobeying but didn't have the courage to just walk out. They probably thought no-one would believe them.

One a similar subject, I was horrified to read about l'Abbé Pierre, who did a lot of work for homeless people (he started Emmaus). His skeletons have started to come out of the cupboard and there have been at least 17 accusations of sexual abuse over the years. Again, it appears that colleagues at Emmaus and in the Catholic church, were aware of his sexual behaviour but did not speak out.

The problem will continue as long as people are aware, but refuse to say anything. People MUST discuss it amongst themselves and have mutual suport, which will give them the courage to report and publicise such things.

[MAD87]

Again, it appears that colleagues at Emmaus and in the Catholic church, were aware of his sexual behaviour but did not speak out.

The vatican and the bishops of several countries knew all about it - he was even sent to Switzerland in the 50s for "reeducation" The church has repeatedly shot itself in the foot for many decades, but has never learned from its mistakes. For several yeard here in France, they've been openly diverting money from the gullible faithful to pay for the defence of offending clerics. Disgusting.

As for other offenders, the richer and/or more famous they are, the more likely they are to get away with it. The victim has to make an official complaint or the offender caught in flgrante. Fear is a major factor, whether of suffering physical harm, being ridiculed, made unemployed or simply being branded a fantacist.

[Bayleaf]

My daughter tried to get support from colleagues who were singled out because they were "petite et blonde" when she worked at an hypermarket. Nowhere near as serious as the above allegations, but she wanted to stamp on it (and him!) before it got worse. Initially, she had lots of supports from other girls who were being inappropriately approached by said male fellow worker. But when it came down to actually being questioned, they chickened out, leaving my daughter to speak on behalf of others, with no back up. Thankfully, said bloke was still cautioned and he left the petite blondes alone. She left the Company soon after anyway, so hopefully he behaved.

[Blaze]

But when it came down to actually being questioned, they chickened out, leaving my daughter to speak on behalf of others, with no back up.

Good for her, brave girl. As I wrote earlier, it's because people won't speak out that this behaviour continues, but as MAD says, fear is a major factor in stopping people from complaining.

[Lori]

Al Fayed now allegedly a serial sex abuser, surely too many victims to be a hoax.

He always gave me the creeps.

[Hotrodder]

Parents of both sexes need to make a point that sexual harrassment is not to be tolerated. It has been going on far too long. No one should have to take this kind of thing and just cower in fear.

[suein56]

He always gave me the creeps.

He affected me like that too .. he made me involuntarily shudder.

[Blaze]

No one should have to take this kind of thing and just cower in fear.

Absolutely. The problem people have in coming forward is the fear of not being believed, which is all too often the case.

[niemeyjt]

The name of Max Clifford once again rises from the sewers . . . but the Police were also made aware it seems, as with JS, and for whatever reason chose not to act.