# UK Dopers, and anyone else following the story - do you think Jimmy Saville "dun it"? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 2, 2012, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-and-anyone-else-following-the-story-do-you-think-jimmy-saville-dun-it/636444 "2012-10-02T01:04:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2012, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-and-anyone-else-following-the-story-do-you-think-jimmy-saville-dun-it/636444/181 "2012-11-03T04:38:17Z")
Well, I didn’t think there’d be anything in this thread to make me laugh but there it is! Trial by bookie. ---
**Author:** ![Cinnamon\_Imp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@Cinnamon\_Imp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Imp)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2012, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-and-anyone-else-following-the-story-do-you-think-jimmy-saville-dun-it/636444/182 "2012-11-03T07:08:21Z")
> [@Bakhesh](#): > > [Newsnight To Out A ‘Senior Political Figure’ As Paedophile](http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/11/02/newsnight-senior-political-figure-paedophile_n_2064582.html?utm_hp_ref=uk) > > Any guesses? Is there a Lord McAlpine, or something like that? I think I saw that name getting passed around on Facebook in the early hours. ---
**Author:** ![Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Springtime_for_Spacers)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2012, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-and-anyone-else-following-the-story-do-you-think-jimmy-saville-dun-it/636444/183 "2012-11-03T15:07:14Z")
> [@Cinnamon\_Imp](#): > > Is there a Lord McAlpine, or something like that? I think I saw that name getting passed around on Facebook in the early hours. He’s a former fundraiser for the conservatives, who held the position of Treasurer. He was very close to Margaret Thatcher and she gave him his peerage. She was always such a terrible judge of character (I’m thinking of Cecil Parkinson, Jonathan Aitken and many more). The rumours about McAlpine have been around for years. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-and-anyone-else-following-the-story-do-you-think-jimmy-saville-dun-it/636444/184 "2012-11-10T08:28:42Z")
Yes, Lord McAlpine was accused by Newsnight of being a vile, evil child molester. [Lord McAlpine Did Not Abuse Me, Says Wales Care Home Victim Steve Messham](http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/11/09/lord-mcalpine-abuse-apology-messham_n_2102508.html?ncid=GEP) Pedogeddon implosion at eleven. ---
**Author:** ![dimmy\_derko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/43a26b/32.png) [@dimmy\_derko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dimmy_derko)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-and-anyone-else-following-the-story-do-you-think-jimmy-saville-dun-it/636444/185 "2012-11-10T11:35:54Z")
McAlpine is fairly insistent that he never went to Wrexham to abuse young boys, but he says nothing about them being delivered to him elsewhere. I’d call the fucker’s bluff and say sue away, especially if I had no money. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-and-anyone-else-following-the-story-do-you-think-jimmy-saville-dun-it/636444/186 "2012-11-10T11:39:40Z")
Random rich people should be sued on the off chance they might be a pedophile? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![dimmy\_derko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/43a26b/32.png) [@dimmy\_derko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dimmy_derko)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-and-anyone-else-following-the-story-do-you-think-jimmy-saville-dun-it/636444/187 "2012-11-10T11:42:35Z")
> [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](#): > > Random rich people should be sued on the off chance they might be a pedophile? 😕 Of course it’s random. He just picked McAlpine out of a hat. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-and-anyone-else-following-the-story-do-you-think-jimmy-saville-dun-it/636444/188 "2012-11-10T11:47:08Z")
I’m glad you cleared that up. ---
**Author:** ![dimmy\_derko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/43a26b/32.png) [@dimmy\_derko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dimmy_derko)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-and-anyone-else-following-the-story-do-you-think-jimmy-saville-dun-it/636444/189 "2012-11-10T11:56:56Z")
As someone elsewhere on the internet has already expressed my opinion, I’ll post it here and save myself some typing. > [@](#): > > The statements made are as you and others, including me, have already said, they are nothing new. The statements go back 17 years+ to abused children who’d become adults, who testified / gave evidence in the various North Wales care home investigations. > > ALL people are doing now is re-stating information that has been in the public domain, and not complained about, for 17 or more years. > > McAlpine cannot now assert that his reputation had been damaged now when the statements have been in the public domain for almost 20 years. > > He’s aggressively posturing to sue because he’s mad and wants this to die down … that’s it. But legally I’d think he’s fucked as a “reasonable person would have thought that the reputation would have been damaged 17 years ago yet the plaintiff failed to act” … why? > > Were the statements true? > Why did McAlpine fail to act? > Why after all this time is he acting now? > > Pretty logical questions really. The man’s fucked and just full of piss and vinegar. ---
**Author:** ![Cinnamon\_Imp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@Cinnamon\_Imp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Imp)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-and-anyone-else-following-the-story-do-you-think-jimmy-saville-dun-it/636444/190 "2012-11-12T08:31:56Z")
> [@Cinnamon\_Imp](#): > > Is there a Lord McAlpine, or something like that? I think I saw that name getting passed around on Facebook in the early hours. Oooops - [“Lord McAlpine to sue Twitter users who named him”](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/9671493/Lord-McAlpine-may-sue-Twitter-users-who-named-him.html) I feel I should point out that this was allegedly a case of mistaken identity, and the victim now [says it wasn’t Lord McAlpine after all.](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20269114) And I should probably stop saying “Lord McAlpine” before the thought police come for me :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-and-anyone-else-following-the-story-do-you-think-jimmy-saville-dun-it/636444/191 "2012-11-12T08:57:43Z")
> [@](#): > > Why after all this time is he acting now? Because, unlike nearly 20 years ago, he was plastered all over prime time TV? ---
**Author:** ![dimmy\_derko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/43a26b/32.png) [@dimmy\_derko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dimmy_derko)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-and-anyone-else-following-the-story-do-you-think-jimmy-saville-dun-it/636444/192 "2012-11-12T09:34:00Z")
If you were a prominent businessman with nothing to hide, would you be prepared to let slide allegations out in the wild about you sexually abusing children, and worse, as long as they weren’t plastered all over prime time tv? ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-and-anyone-else-following-the-story-do-you-think-jimmy-saville-dun-it/636444/193 "2012-11-12T09:42:18Z")
If it were a two line article in the Podunk Sentinel, the quite possibly yes. No need to throw my gasoline on someone else’s ember. ---
**Author:** ![dimmy\_derko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/43a26b/32.png) [@dimmy\_derko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dimmy_derko)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 9:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-and-anyone-else-following-the-story-do-you-think-jimmy-saville-dun-it/636444/194 "2012-11-12T09:52:50Z")
> [@Cinnamon\_Imp](#): > > Oooops - [“Lord McAlpine to sue Twitter users who named him”](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/9671493/Lord-McAlpine-may-sue-Twitter-users-who-named-him.html) > > I feel I should point out that this was allegedly a case of mistaken identity, and the victim now [says it wasn’t Lord McAlpine after all.](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20269114) > > And I should probably stop saying “Lord McAlpine” before the thought police come for me :eek: A conspiracy-minded person could say this Messham fiasco was tailor-made to discredit any future allegations against important figures, and try and sour the public’s perception of accusers. ---
**Author:** ![dimmy\_derko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/43a26b/32.png) [@dimmy\_derko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dimmy_derko)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-and-anyone-else-following-the-story-do-you-think-jimmy-saville-dun-it/636444/195 "2012-11-12T09:58:00Z")
> [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](#): > > If it were a two line article in the Podunk Sentinel, the quite possibly yes. No need to throw my gasoline on someone else’s ember. How about if it was in a book written by a guy who goes on speaking tours all around the world to promote his books? You’d want to put that guy out of business, wouldn’t you? ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-and-anyone-else-following-the-story-do-you-think-jimmy-saville-dun-it/636444/196 "2012-11-12T10:14:08Z")
Assuming this is what actually happened (I honestly have no idea), then my answer is still quite possibly yes. One guy on a book tour is not the same as being on the front page of every newspaper in the world. There’s very little upside to suing no names (see the McDonalds case above). It’s expensive and generates a lot of publicity. ---
**Author:** ![dimmy\_derko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/43a26b/32.png) [@dimmy\_derko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dimmy_derko)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-and-anyone-else-following-the-story-do-you-think-jimmy-saville-dun-it/636444/197 "2012-11-12T10:29:32Z")
Whatever the truth of the allegations, it looks like he has made a tactical error at least, because it’ll be far harder to dam the tide of rumours in the age of social media than it was when the accusations were made. ---
**Author:** ![Cinnamon\_Imp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@Cinnamon\_Imp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Imp)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2012, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-and-anyone-else-following-the-story-do-you-think-jimmy-saville-dun-it/636444/198 "2012-11-15T20:55:42Z")
That’s Dave Lee Travis been arrested by the Savile police today, and I’m hearing internet rumours about a man from Crinkley Bottom… ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2012, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-and-anyone-else-following-the-story-do-you-think-jimmy-saville-dun-it/636444/199 "2012-11-16T00:12:58Z")
The other side of the coin… Dave Jones, at the time manager of Southampton Football Club was arrested and put on trial for alleged molestation of youths in his care while working at a children’s home. The judge threw the case out of court on the second day of a ten day projected trial saying “There is no smoke, there is no fire”. Two men were later gaoled for making false allegations against him.They had apparently hatched a plan to sell their story to a tabloid newspaper. Thirteen years later he’s still got to put up with taunts from opposition supporters. I ---
**Author:** ![Cinnamon\_Imp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@Cinnamon\_Imp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Imp)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2012, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-and-anyone-else-following-the-story-do-you-think-jimmy-saville-dun-it/636444/200 "2012-11-20T12:14:31Z")
And an [interesting article](http://thesumpplug.blogspot.com.es/2012/11/don-jimmy-gambino-obe.html) now saying Savile was a mobster! (okay, technically saying “was Savile a mobster?”) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-and-anyone-else-following-the-story-do-you-think-jimmy-saville-dun-it/636444.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-and-anyone-else-following-the-story-do-you-think-jimmy-saville-dun-it/636444.md?page=11)