A high court judge has dismissed claims that children in north London have been abused by paedophiles in a satanic cult.

Mrs Justice Pauffley said details of the claims had been circulating on the internet. She said she had been asked to investigate by social services bosses, and had conducted a fact-finding exercise, at a family court hearing in London.

The judge said in a ruling on Thursday that the claims were baseless, and described people who sought to perpetuate them as “evil” or “foolish”.

Pauffley said the case centred on two children – aged eight and nine – whose parents were separated. The judge said the London borough of Barnet had begun care proceedings in relation to the youngsters.

She said last September “lurid allegations of the most serious kind” were drawn to the attention of police. It was suggested that the youngsters were part of a large group of children from north London who belonged to a satanic cult.

She said there were allegations of “significant paedophile activity” – allegations that children had been sexually abused and made to abuse one another.



Pauffley said allegations were made by the two children, their mother and her partner.

“Specifically, it was said that babies were supplied from all over the world,” she said.

“They were bought, injected with drugs and then sent by TNT or DHL to London. The assertions were that babies had been abused, tortured and then sacrificed.

“Their throats were slit, blood was drunk and cult members would then dance wearing babies’ skulls (sometimes with blood and hair still attached”) on their bodies.

“All the cult members wore shoes made of baby skin produced by the owner of a specified shoe repair shop.”

She said it was alleged that the “main action” occurred at a school – and at least seven other schools were named. A swimming pool was identified as a meeting place.

It was alleged that “rituals” were performed at a McDonald’s fast-food restaurant when “the boss” allowed child sacrifice because he was a member of the cult, said the judge.

And it was said that babies were prepared and cooked in ovens in a “secret kitchen” then eaten by cult members.

Pauffley said it was alleged that the father of the two children at the centre of the case was the “cult leader” and members included a school headteacher, a teacher, priest, social workers and police.

It was alleged that more than 100 people were “doing sex” to the children.



“I am able to state with complete conviction that none of the allegations are true,” said Pauffley in her ruling. “The claims are baseless.”

She added: “Those who have sought to perpetuate them are evil and/or foolish.”