England: Ben Emmerson QC cleared of sexual assault allegation

The barrister formerly in charge of the independent inquiry into child abuse in England and Wales has been cleared of an allegation of sexual assault following an investigation.

Ben Emmerson QC, a founder of Matrix Chambers, was accused of sexually assaulting a woman in a lift in the offices of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) earlier this year.

Matrix asked Sir David Calvert-Smith, a former High Court judge, to investigate the allegations after they were reported in the media and mentioned in Parliament.

Sir David, also a former director of public prosecutions, interviewed the alleged complainant as well as Mr Emmerson before compiling a report for the chambers’ management committee.

Matrix said in a statement: “Sir David concluded ‘without hesitation’ that Mr Emmerson had not committed any act of sexual assault or sexual harassment. The management committee has accepted Sir David’s findings and is satisfied that they demonstrate no case of professional misconduct to report to the Bar Standards Board.”

The chambers said the report was “confidential and its contents will not be made public”.

Mr Emmerson welcomed the findings, saying: “This has been a difficult period and I am naturally very pleased that an independent senior judge has confirmed that the allegations against me were always unfounded.”

The alleged complainant declined to make a comment after being contacted by The Times.

Mr Emmerson left the inquiry a day after being suspended by its chairwoman, Alexis Jay.

According to his friends, he was unaware of the allegation against him when he resigned and was never given any reason for his suspension.

The inquiry, which has cost £20 million so far, has not yet held a single evidence session. Since it was established two years ago it has lost three chairwomen and, in the past year, four senior lawyers.