JERSEY PROBE: NO CHARGES FOR COUPLE

The 70-year-old man and 69-year-old woman were questioned in June over claims that they attacked foster children in their care in the 1960s and 1970s.

Jersey's Attorney General William Bailhache QC said: "The evidential test has not been passed, and it would be simply 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 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.