Judge Lowell Goddard quits as head of UK independent inquiry into child sexual abuse
She steps down after it was revealed had spent three months on holiday in her first 12 montths on the job
JUDGE Lowell Goddard has stepped down as head of UK independent inquiry into child sexual abuse, the home secretary has announced.
Reports surfaced this week that New-Zealander Lowell had spent three months on holiday or overseas during her first year in the £360,000 job.
She was tipped to become the United Kingdom's highest paid public servant.
The inquiry was set up in March 2015 to examine claims made against public and private institutions.
Justice Goddard is the third chair of the inquiry to resign, following in the footsteps of Baroness Butler-Sloss and Fiona Woolf.
After being selected by then home secretary Theresa May, she admitted her appointment that she was unfamiliar with British law.
The Judge's basic salary was £360,000 which was topped up with perks such as free business class flights home to New Zealand, a £110,000 a year rental allowance, and a car and a driver.
She spent 44 working days in New Zealand and Australia after becoming chair of the inquiry, The Times reported
Home Secretary Amber Rudd said a new chair would be appointed.
She said in a statement: "I want to assure everyone with an interest in the inquiry, particularly victims and survivors, that the work of the inquiry will continue without delay.
"I would like to thank Dame Lowell Goddard for the contribution she has made in setting up the inquiry so that it may continue to go about its vital work."
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