No allegations of inappropriate behaviour or abuse against TV presenter Jimmy Savile were ever made to the Central Remedial Clinic in Ireland, for which he fundraised.
The national centre, which works with children and adults with physical disabilities, has urged anyone with suspicions, allegations or knowledge of incidents involving inappropriate or criminal behaviour by him to contact the relevant authorities.
A report yesterday by Britain’s Metropolitan Police report and the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children confirmed 214 sexual offences recorded against the presenter in Britain, including 32 rapes.
“We, at the Central Remedial Clinic, continue to be shocked and stunned by the ongoing allegations of child abuse involving Jimmy Savile,” the centre said in a statement.
“We would, however, like to reiterate that, at no time, has the CRC ever been made aware of any allegations or any incidents involving inappropriate or criminal behaviour concerning Jimmy Savile, neither during, nor after, his involvement with the CRC.”
The centre added: “We are extremely stunned by these ongoing allegations and, as a national centre for children and adults with physical disabilities, the safety and wellbeing of our clients is paramount.”
The CRC highlighted its status as a non-residential centre “and accordingly it is our understanding that at no time was Jimmy Savile left unattended with children in the care of the CRC”.
That understanding was echoed by Buddy Philips, a volunteer for the clinic who acted as driver for the TV presenter when he was in Ireland.
Mr Philips, who said Savile “fooled a huge amount of people, including me and a lot of the top people in the CRC”, told RTÉ’s Liveline radio programme yesterday that “when he was here, there were four adults with him all the time”.
The disgraced celebrity had raised funds for the clinic through annual 10-mile walks between 1968 and 1981, which went from Dublin city centre to Baldoyle and later the RDS in Ballsbridge.
