Evening Standard
Police yesterday warned the capital’s private tutors to be extra vigilant after another tutor was attacked and threatened with a knife. The assault took place on the towpath in Barnes and police are connecting it to a recent series of similar attacks on tutors and to the murder of Giles Gallen, found stabbed in Barnes Old Cemetery last Saturday.
Sources suggest that the recent victim worked for Forum Tutors, the agency that employed both Gallen and the other assault victims. Felicia and Roddy Ireland, the owners of Forum, were unavailable for comment but today issued a statement. ‘We were absolutely devastated to hear of the murder of Giles Gallen and are horrified by the assaults on our tutors. Their safety is our priority and we are issuing guidelines to them all about the need for care and watchfulness.’ 270
DCI Karen Deighton of the Metropolitan Police, in charge of the murder investigation, said, ‘We are shocked by the series of attacks and believe they may be linked to the murder of Giles Gallen. We are pursuing several lines of enquiry but urge anyone who has any information which they think may be of relevance to get in touch on 02088789472.
When asked whether the murder and attacks are specifically linked to Forum Tutors DCI Deighton said, ‘We are in regular contact with the agency but are keeping an open mind.’
Emily Francis is one of those assaulted. She recently wrote of her experience in the Standard and yesterday said that ‘my fears have been confirmed. There is something very sinister going on and I would urge anyone working as a tutor, in particular those working for Forum, to be extra vigilant and avoid being by themselves, especially at night.’
Roddy Ireland threw the paper onto the desk with a violent flick of the wrist and glared at Garibaldi and Gardner.
‘My question is what the fuck are you doing about it?’
‘We’re pursuing several—’
‘Don’t give me your several lines of enquiry bullshit! One of our tutors was murdered and three have been attacked. If ever there was any doubt that someone is after Forum Tutors then that doubt has gone. Have you got nowhere in your investigation?’
Felicia Ireland placed a restraining hand on her husband’s arm.
‘The thing is,’ she said, keeping her voice low and calm to 271offset her husband’s, ‘we’re very worried. Our first concern is our tutors but you have to realise that in a business such as ours there are a lot of people who are being affected by what’s going on. There are the kids we teach of course but there are also the parents. And parents talk. My God do they talk. And this—’ she reached for the Standard ‘—doesn’t help.’
‘And as for that bitch Emily Francis,’ said Roddy. ‘She can’t stop herself talking to the press, can she? Writes a couple of articles and then gives them a quote warning all Forum tutors! I don’t believe it!’
‘We’re suffering,’ said Felicia. ‘At first clients were supportive when they heard the news about poor Giles. But now they’re worried. They don’t want their kids’ tutors attacked. They don’t want their kids’ tutors murdered.’
‘There’s no evidence to suggest that they will be murdered,’ said Garibaldi. ‘These were threats.’
‘Serious fucking threats, though,’ said Roddy. ‘And there’s already been one murder. What more evidence do you need?’ He looked aggressively at Garibaldi and Gardner. ‘And tell me, what exactly are your lines of enquiry? How close are you to finding Gallen’s killer and the man behind these attacks?’
‘I’m afraid we can’t answer that,’ said Garibaldi, ‘the details of an ongoing murder investigation have to remain confidential.’
‘Very convenient.’
‘But,’ added Garibaldi, ‘we are of course looking closely at Giles’s activities and that means we have been looking closely at those he tutored. And their families.’
Roddy pointed at the paper on the desk. ‘And what have you found out?’
Felicia waved a restraining hand in front of her husband. ‘Maybe you should calm down, dear.’ 272
‘What do you mean? All I’m asking is a perfectly reasonable question—’
‘Look,’ said Garibaldi, ‘Given the way the press works and especially given the way people talk and gossip it’s extremely unlikely that you’ll be out of the spotlight for some time. I think you should prepare yourself for that.’
‘Maybe we should prepare another statement,’ said Felicia.
Roddy looked at his wife. His face was red and puffed. ‘Someone’s out to ruin us, aren’t they? And whoever it is, they’re doing a fucking good job!’
‘As I was saying, Mr Ireland, we’ve been speaking to the kids Gallen was tutoring. We’ve been talking to all his Forum pupils here in West London and also in the White City.’
‘White City? We don’t have any clients in the White City.’
‘He did some pro bono work, remember? Hillside Academy and one of the kids he was helping lives in White City.’
‘White City?’ said Roddy, as if the words had triggered something significant. ‘A boy, was it? And this boy … what was he like?’
‘I think what Roddy means,’ said Felicia, ‘Is that—’
‘I know what I mean,’ said Roddy. ‘I’m asking what the boy was like.’
Garibaldi knew exactly what Roddy Ireland wanted to know, but he wasn’t prepared to tell him. ‘If you think we should be looking in the direction of Hillside Academy and the White City more than in the direction of Barnes because this sort of thing simply doesn’t happen here, may I point out that—’
‘I’m not saying that. I’m asking a simple question.’ 273
‘OK,’ said Garibaldi, ‘if you’re suggesting that a high-achieving student aiming for Cambridge is likely, simply because of where he lives, his background, to be involved in those activities, then I’m afraid I have to put you right.’
‘Go on then, put me right! So much for pro fucking bono, eh? Look where it gets you!’
‘You don’t mean that, Roddy,’ said Felicia. She turned to Garibaldi and Gardner. ‘He doesn’t mean it. We’re proud of it. Tutors like Giles were making a difference up there. A real difference. All we want is something that will help us understand what’s going on, something to give us the hope that all this will stop.’
‘And all I want to say to you,’ said Roddy, ‘is that you don’t have to be Inspector Fucking Morse to work out that someone is after Forum. We’re under threat. What are we expected to do? Our tutors need to get out and tutor. They need to move about, travel across London. We can’t just stop everything, shut down our business. Maybe that’s what they want us to do. Well, if it is they’re going to be disappointed.’
‘I understand, Mr Ireland,’ said Garibaldi.
‘Do you? I’m not sure you do. Well let’s not keep you. I’m sure you’ve got plenty of lines of enquiry you need to explore.’
‘Before we go,’ said Garibaldi, ‘are you absolutely sure you have no idea of anything Giles may have been up to that would make someone want to murder him?’
‘We’ve already told you, Inspector. What’s more we have no idea why, since his murder, three of our tutors have been attacked.’
‘And if your theory is right and whoever’s behind all this is after you, after Forum, can you think of any reason why they might be?’ 274
‘Of course not! That’s the whole point. That’s why we’re so distressed. I can’t think of any reason in the world!’
Roddy Ireland’s face had turned purple. His wife looked at him and as she did Garibaldi caught a fleeting expression in her face. It showed fear and worry but he thought it showed something else as well – a suspicion that there might, despite her husband’s claims, be some kind of motive for targeting Forum.
Garibaldi had no idea whether his instincts were right, but he left the Glebe Road house unconvinced by Roddy Ireland’s protestations of innocence.