A couple arrested by Jersey police as part of the abuse inquiry dating back to the 1960s and 1970s will not face charges because of a lack of evidence, the island's Attorney General said yesterday.
The 70-year-old man and 69-year-old woman were questioned in June over claims that they had attacked foster children in their care.
Jersey's Attorney General William Bailhache QC said: "The evidential test has not been passed, and it would be simp
ly wrong to bring the prosecution."
He also hit back at claims that police were obstructing or delaying justice in the case as "deeply offensive".
The allegations were of physical, not sexual, abuse and were not related to the Haut de la Garenne children's home.
Police received complaints from three people claiming they were the victims of "excessive corporal punishment" between 1967 and 1977.
After the police investigated and the couple were arrested and bailed, an evidence file was passed to prosecutors on July 18, and examined by a Jersey Crown advocate and barristers from a London law firm.
After deciding there was not enough evidence to prosecute, the lawyers reviewed the file and passed it to Mr Bailhache to consider.
The law officers department on Jersey said yesterday there was "significant conflict of evidence", with some alleged victims questioned denying they had been abused and praising the care they received.
Siblings of alleged victims claimed no violent abuse took place and "spoke very highly" of the couple, the statement said.
Mr Bailhache said he understood the decision would disappoint alleged victims and said a fuller report of the process was being released to assuage fears that justice was not being done in the case.
He said allegations that there was deliberate obstruction or delay in considering the evidence were "very unhelpful".
"It's not just deeply offensive to me and my team, although it is, but it also risks undermining confidence amongst the victims of child abuse that justice will be done.
"If the evidence is there, the prosecutions will be brought and pursued with a great deal of vigour."
Police have so far passed six case files to prosecutors, three of which have led to charges. The fourth was the one dropped yesterday. The fifth is still being considered by prosecutors and the sixth passed back to police for further investigation.
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