3 days ago
Council finally cuts ties with Pride group founded by paedophile
A county council has finally cut all ties with a Pride group, four years after whistleblowers raised serious concerns about its paedophile founder.
Surrey council's chief executive has withdrawn funding from the controversial Pride in Surrey group, and has barred staff from attending September's Pride event in an official capacity.
In 2021, the council was accused of ignoring whistleblowers who raised safeguarding concerns against Pride in Surrey, to which it had given tens of thousands of pounds.
The organisation was co-founded by Stephen Ireland, who was found guilty in March of raping an 'extremely vulnerable' 12-year-old boy. He was jailed for 24 years in June.
Earlier this month, The Telegraph disclosed that concerns about Ireland, including that he had appointed himself as the organisation's head of safeguarding, had been passed to the council years ago.
Ireland set up Pride in Surrey in 2018, and the county council has given it funding of more than £140,000 since 2020, including £24,275 for the year 2024/25.
Two whistleblowers told The Telegraph that their concerns were ignored by Joanna Killian, then chief executive of the council.
Now Terence Herbert, her successor, has written to staff to say the council took action after concerns were raised that the group is not 'truly representative' of the whole LGBT community.
Council 'still committed to LGBTQ+ people'
'While we continue to wholeheartedly support the LGBTQ+ community in Surrey, there have been concerns raised about Pride in Surrey as an organisation,' he said.
'At this time, we do not believe Pride in Surrey to be truly representative of the whole LGBTQ+ community.
'Therefore, Surrey county council will not be attending or funding Surrey Pride.
'I will be writing to Pride in Surrey to make them aware of this decision, and I will make any necessary arrangements to cancel any commitments to attend Pride this September.
'This decision does not change our ongoing commitment to LGBTQ+ people, and we firmly believe everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.
'We will continue to work with other representative organisations across the county to champion the rights of protected groups, and we continue to be a strong advocate of the LGBTQ+ staff network who we are engaging with fully on this issue.'
Kate Barker, the chief executive of the charity LGB Alliance, said: 'Surrey council has made the right decision.
'Pride in Surrey has shown complete disregard for safeguarding even after its founder's despicable crimes were exposed.'
Ireland's trial was told the 42-year-old arranged for the 12-year-old boy, referred to as Child A, to meet him at his flat after messaging on dating app Grindr.
The boy told police they had sex in the flat, smoked a bong, which was later found to have contained methamphetamine, and that pornography was played on a laptop.
Judge Patricia Lees told Ireland he 'took advantage' of a vulnerable child. He was convicted of one count of rape, three counts of causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, sexual assault, conspiracy to engage in sexual activity with a child, and arranging commission of a child sex offence.
Earlier this month, Marion Harding, a former volunteer with Pride in Surrey, told The Telegraph she contacted Ms Killian in 2021 to raise safeguarding concerns about the organisation.
She said she and her wife Cathy, who also volunteered, were concerned Ireland had appointed himself head of safeguarding – a role that, according to guidance for voluntary bodies, should 'not be the most senior person in the organisation'.
He also had sole responsibility for the group's 'helpline' for young people – meaning he had direct access to vulnerable children.
Volunteers were also concerned that Ireland appeared to be in a polyamorous relationship involving a young man, and that social media posts by Pride in Surrey celebrated 'fetishes' – some involving young people – while Ireland was in charge.
In a letter to Ms Killian, Ms Harding, 62, also pointed out Ireland was in a relationship with a young man 'who is barely 18', in what amounted to an 'abuse of power from a person in a position of trust, and could cause the wrong message to go out to young, vulnerable gay people'.
The chief executive replied to say an investigation would take place, but nothing happened.
Until earlier this year, Surrey Police listed Pride in Surrey on its website as a 'partner agency' that 'can also offer information, advice, and support' on LGBT issues, in addition to the force's LGBT liaison officers.
