Suspended NSPCC chief reinstated

An NSPCC staff member who was suspended over his role as a
character witness in the case of a man found innocent of sexually
abusing children has been reinstated.

Gerry Tissier, the charity’s head of media relations, will
return to work now an independent inquiry commissioned by director
Mary Marsh has finished. The inquiry was launched after a complaint
from the mother of one of three girls who had made allegations of
sexual abuse against their guitar teacher.

Tissier had testified at Southwark crown court as a character
witness for the teacher, Henry Bran, who was cleared of the charges
last month.

Marsh said Tissier’s evidence was “given in a personal
capacity and not as a representative of the NSPCC”.

She added his suspension was “a precautionary measure without
implication of fault”.