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Links probe: Prince and the groper

Charles’s ‘supportive letters’ to be scrutinised

THE royals are set be dragged into an investigation as to whether Prince Charles made “inappropriate attempts” to interfere in the case of a pervert bishop, it was was revealed yesterday.

Prince Charles is alleged to have written letters of support to former bishop Peter Ball, 83, before the religious leader was “cautioned” for gross indecency in 1993 after sex abuse claims were exposed.

Ball was jailed for 32 months in October after admitting to sexually abusing 18 young aspiring priests who he let stay in his home as part of his “Give a Year to Christ Foundation” 22 years ago.

Clarence House was forced then to deny that Charles got involved in the judicial process on behalf of Ball, former bishop of Lewes and Gloucester, who had described the prince as his “loyal friend.”

Current — and former — MPs, councils and schools were also revealed on Friday to be the focus of 12 investigations into child sex abuse after a number of “high-profile” allegations have been made.

Justice Lowell Goddard, who is leading the “ambitious” inquiry, said that “certain people of public prominence associated with Westminster” will be scrutinised.

Lambeth, Nottinghamshire and Rochdale councils will also be probed in the wake of sex abuse claims, as well as Roman Catholic and Anglican churches.

Residential school Knowl View in Manchester and Cambridge House boys’ hostel in Rochdale will also be investigated over allegations that the late Rochdale Lib Dem MP, Cyril Smith, had molested children on both sites.

Ms Goddard continued: “The investigation will focus on high-profile allegations of child sexual abuse involving current or former members of parliament, senior civil servants, government advisers and members of intelligence and security agencies.

“It will consider allegations of cover-up and conspiracy and review the adequacy of law enforcement responses to these allegations.”

The investigations are set to be part of Britain’s largest-ever public inquiry.

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