Hampton principal apologises for trying to block media personnel
Hampton School Principal Heather Murray, who has found herself embroiled in the controversy surrounding rape and carnal abuse charges brought against Moravian minister of religion Rupert Clarke, yesterday apologised for interfering with the work of media personnel outside the St Elizabeth Parish Court on January 4.
Murray had tried to block television cameras from recording Clarke leaving the courthouse after he was arraigned.
“I accept that it was imprudent and inappropriate for me to take any steps in the precincts of the courthouse, irrespective of the legal stipulations, which could interfere with the rights of the free press or impede the work of media practitioners in the pursuit of duty,” she said in a statement issued hours after Education Minister Ruel Reid met with administrators of the school located on Malvern, St Elizabeth.
Murray also apologised to the education community and the country for her presence and actions, which she said have been “misinterpreted as support” for the accused pastor.
“I had become so immersed in the emotional trauma of the hurt and embarrassment which the wife of the accused was experiencing that I failed to realise that my presence in the precincts of the court could possibly be misconstrued as taking the side of her husband, rather than the victim,” she said. “In my sisterly embrace and response of loyalty to her, I failed to take into account that my being there could expose my office or the institution I head to any hint of controversy or cloud of misunderstanding.”
She stressed that she was deeply grieved at the perception, as it contradicts her lifetime work as an educator, mother, wife and a woman. “In this regard, my record of protecting all those under my care can withstand the most exacting scrutiny. There are countless teachers, pupils, parents, and workers in the field who can all attest to my resolute and consistent stand against any form of sexual abuse or exploitation,” the embattled principal stated.
Clarke is to return to court on February 13.
Yesterday, Minister Reid said that the Centre for Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse has signalled its intention to lay carnal abuse charges against Clarke in relation to another minor who is a sibling of the 15-year-old girl he is accused of abusing.