Police in Jersey have revealed that no murders were committed at a former children's care home at the centre of a massive abuse inquiry.

Following revelations that previously released evidence on the case was inaccurate, Chief Officer of Jersey Police Graham Power has been suspended pending an investigation.

Police also expressed 'much regret' at misleading information released by Mr Power's predecessor, Lenny Harper.

The claims were made during an investigation into claims of abuse during the 1960s and 1970s at the Haut de la Garenne children's home on Jersey.

So far three people have been charged and are awaiting trial on the island.

The abuse investigation was launched in 2006 but scandal surrounding the home, which was a youth hostel in recent years, only received widespread media attention in February.

At a news conference this afternoon, detectives revealed that information about finds at the home - which indicated that children might have been killed and then buried - were inaccurate.

No Murders

In their first briefing since taking charge of one of Britain's biggest child abuse cases, Deputy Chief Officer David Warcup and Detective Superintendent Michael Gradwell discredited a string of previous police claims.

* A bone fragment, said to be from a child's skull, was in fact a coconut.

* The shackles and restraints were found to be rusty pieces of metal, with no indication that they were used for restraint.

* It was revealed that there was no blood on a 'blood-stained bath' found in a cellar. The bath had not been used since the 1920s.

* There was nothing suspicious about bones and teeth found in a cellar at the home. The bones were animal bones, dating from between 1470 and 1670. The teeth were children's milk teeth.

* There is no suggestion of murder or of any bodies destroyed.

* Reports that police had uncovered secret underground chambers or punishment rooms were wrong.

* Many 'secret chambers' were just holes in the ground.



Despite admitting 'incorrect' information was given out by police in the past, Mr Warcup insisted there was no indication of a cover-up under Mr Harper, who retired in August.

Mr Harper, who is now living in Ayrshire, Scotland, defended himself for raising fears children were murdered.



Mr Harper told the BBC it was unfortunate that the statements would detract from the fact that serious abuse had taken place at the home.