Independent review call after paedophile head jailed

Cyngor Gwynedd has a duty of care to children and should be subject to an independent review, according to Liz Saville-Roberts.

The MP made her demand following the jailing of paedophile headteacher Neil Foden.

He was sentenced to 17 years in prison for sexually abusing four children in north Wales between 2019 and 2023.

The Welsh government said it was waiting for the conclusion of the already underway Children’s Practice Review before deciding on any further action.

Cyngor Gwynedd, or Gwynedd council, said it is contributing fully to the review and an independent review was needed to understand what went wrong.

The call for a review comes in addition to the growing demand for a full public inquiry, which would force witnesses to contribute to the process.

Foden, 66, may have abused pupils for more than 40 years.

Saville Roberts said: “I feel very strongly that we have a duty of care to the children who are in the Gwynedd education system at the moment – Ysgol Friars and other schools, their parents and their communities.

“There is therefore a duty on Cyngor Gwynedd to commission a review of their current child protection processes, and for that to be an independent review.

“We have, as a group of councillors, called for an independent review. I expect the leadership of Cyngor Gwynedd to act on that demand from the group for an independent review.”

Ms Saville Roberts refused to defend or support the leadership of Cyngor Gwynedd and the way it has dealt with the situation, after being asked to clarify her position.

She said: “I have a duty to act on behalf of the public. I want the public to have confidence in the council and I am looking for evidence to prove that now.”

The MP also called for the former headmaster’s pension to be pulled.

“I and a number of Members of Parliament in the north-west support the NASUWT teachers’ union which is putting pressure on the minister for education at Westminster, because they are responsible for pensions, and withdrawing Neil Foden’s public pension,” she said.

“If his offences have undermined the public’s confidence in a public service, there is room to question whether his pension can be forfeited. I think that is an absolutely necessary step.”

The UK and Welsh governments and the council were contacted but it remains unclear who is responsible for deciding the future of Foden’s pension.