Dame Lowell Goddard has denied saying Britain has so many pedophiles “because it has so many Asian men” and making other racist remarks while she was head of the UK’s biggest public inquiry.

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According to the Times, Goddard, who is from New Zealand, also voiced shock at the size of the Britain’s ethnic minority population and complained of having to travel 50 miles (80km) from London to see a white face.

The newspaper also claims Goddard, who resigned as chairwoman of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse in August, treated staff with contempt and often flew into rages, reducing the inquiry’s operation to “near paralysis.”

She also reportedly claimed not to be part of the establishment, but was overly impressed by “breeding,” judged people according to their social status and nursed a deep reverence for the royal family.

In a statement released on Friday, Goddard denies all the claims made against her.

“I await the advice of my London lawyers on these articles, which I have only just seen. I confirm my absolute rejection of this attack.

“I am confident that in New Zealand my known reputation from my work over many years will provide its own refutation of these falsities.

“I will be making no further statement and will not engage with those conducting this vicious campaign.”

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Goddard quit the inquiry after heading it for 18 months. It was opened by Prime Minister Theresa May when she was home secretary in July 2014 to investigate the alleged cover-up of child sex abuse at institutions including Westminster, the church, care homes, schools and in the armed forces.

The inquiry is expected to last a decade and cost up to £100 million (US$122.4 million), but is yet to hear any evidence.

Goddard was on a £500,000 salary package and only the home secretary had the power to fire her.

Whitehall officials close to May are being accused of covering up the allegations of misconduct, because her “catastrophic” leadership was not ended despite the submission of several alleged warnings about her behavior.

Insiders told the Times they had secret meetings and high-level discussions over many months where assurances were given that their concerns were being shared with senior Home Office staff.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd claimed Goddard resigned from her position because she was “lonely” and because the probe was “too much.”