Peer 'Unfit' To Face Child Sex Abuse Trial

Lord Janner is unfit to stand trial for a string of child sex offences, a high court judge has declared.

The Labour peer, who is suffering advanced dementia, could not name his children or grandchildren, did not remember where he went to school or university and had little memory of his political career, medical professionals had found.

A report from September found he could no longer read a book or follow the television, and could "hardly speak".

The 87-year-old faced 22 charges relating to offences alleged to have taken place between the 1960s and 1980s. The allegations of sexual offences relate to boys - 21 of whom were under 16 at the time.

:: Lord Janner In Court To Face Child Sex Abuse Charges

After considering medical reports from four experts over two years, Mr Justice Openshaw ruled he was not well enough to be tried.

He said: "The defendant has advanced and disabling dementia which is deteriorating and irreversible and I find he is unfit to plead and stand trial on his indictment."

Mr Justice Openshaw accepted that Lord Janner would not be able to understand the charges against him or enter a plea and said the public had been "unjustifiably sceptical" about the case.

The court decided to release details of his condition because of social media speculation he was able to appear, but the judge said there was "no need for personal humiliation over his condition".

There is now expected to be a trial of facts rather than a full trial. A jury will be asked to decide whether the peer carried out the acts he is accused of.

Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders had faced sharp criticism of her initial decision not to try Lord Janner because his dementia made him unfit to face a hearing.

This was overturned in the summer following pressure from his alleged victims.

In August, Lord Janner appeared for a one-minute hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court. As he walked into the court he said "Ooh how lovely" before taking his seat.

His daughter helped him from the court saying: "Come on dad, let's go and have a nice ice cream."

At the last hearing in October, prosecution and defence barristers said there was no dispute he was too ill to be tried.

His family has always insisted he is innocent of any of the allegations made against him.