Huw Edwards case - the impact on family

Even if the children are never, ever in the company of the paedophile? As in this case?

Child safeguarding should be the top of everyone's priorities and keeping away from paedophiles is the very essence of that. By choosing any sort of relationship with a paedophile you are completely disregarding the safety of children.

Oh come on, we all know what he did was very, very wrong!

Don't make insinuations about people, when you clearly cannot even vaguely comprehend what families endure as a result of their loved one's crimes.

I agree. All of you posters vowing that you would cut the perpetrator off without a second thought, really don't understand the complexities of a situation like this. Thankfully it's one I have never been in but I can spare a little empathy for people caught up in it through no fault of theirs.

@Fairyliz I think you would have to be a very hard person to not see what hell his family must be living through.

Who here is to say which of them are right or wrong?

Those of us that know that having an interest in child sexual abuse is wrong, and would rightly have nothing to do with anyone who has an interest it, can absolutely say you and your sibling are wrong not to shun your father. That is those of us who don't think in an unhealthy way and who don't feel the need to stay in contact with very bad people just because they're family. You're father is messed up, it's no wonder that the children of people like him are sometimes also messed up in some way.

Well Huw wasn’t thinking about his family was he, so why should people who don’t know them?

Unfair and harsh on OP who has been dealing with a rollercoaster of emotions

Christianity teaches that God forgives anyone who sincerely repents. But that doesn't mean us mere humans need to ignore the dangers being around sex offenders or letting then anywhere near children. Only God can know Edwards' heart.

I wonder if Jesus forgives these men? Clearly no one on this thread would, but what about religious people who preach forgiveness? I’m not religious but it got me wondering - is there forgiveness or any redemption possible?

Out of the character that he showed to you, you mean. It's not something anyone announces.

Probably not "out of the blue" either. Most of them do it for some time before being caught.

It's not unreasonable for your wife doesn't want to know him. (Do you want to be matey with any sex offenders you're not related to?). Count yourself lucky she doesn't insist on you cutting him off as well. If you and she can agree to differ and just not talk about him, that really is the best you can hope for.

I agree with the OP about the impact on family, and indeed on work colleagues, not all of whom were highly paid presenters.

In no way does that reduce my disgust and abhorrence at what Huw Edwards has done, and his accomplice.

Looks like @therunningman is not coming back - either because he is weak (no surprise given he is a paedophile sympathiser) or just started this thread for kicks

Adult male transgresses Societal norms - cue everyone feeling sorry for him, understanding, forgiving, loving wife stands by in the face of a probable shit show……

For example Teenager lashes out in anger ( been abused, let down, left with limited options in life) prison, drug addiction, homelessness here we come because somehow we have less compassion for this person

It must be very difficult OP when this happens in the family however - the number of men who partake in this abuse is staggering ( and a few females - Vanessa George)
As a society we have our priorities wrong - we live in a world where men are put on pedestals, highly paid and then everyone understands he just had so much stress he had to click on images ( as young as 7 we are told) to relive his stress

It’s not child porn - it’s abuse. Someone’s son or daughter. Perhaps they are poor perhaps the parents are not very competent perhaps they conspire to involve their children because they know no better

I would not engage with your FIL for a second. His actions are heinous

Jesus wept. He was sent 44 images showing the of the sexual abuse of children - the bulk of which were over a 2 month period. So for more than 2 months he was happily receiving sick images, which he discussed with the fellow paedophile. Only when sent a video of the sexual abuse of a child aged between 7-9 which the other man described as looking ‘quite young’ did Edwards tell him not to send him anything illegal. He was presumably quite happy with the other images he was sent of child sex abuse though.

Have you given any thought to how this fellow paedophile know to contact Edwards via social media in the first place? How did he know this random public figure would be open to discussing and viewing child sex abuse? It can’t have been a speculative contact. I rather suspect he is/was known amongst fellow nonces.

Please don’t be a paedophile apologist. It’s not a good look.

I wouldn't let them anywhere near my kids and you shouldn't either. I'm sorry this happened in your family but your wife is right in protecting your children. Your view is very worrying, and is offensive to the children your father hurt via his actions. I do not believe you can cure or excuse paedophilia, and the only answer is to lock them up, away from anyone they could hurt. Even if that's my DH or my Dad.

My step dad sexually abused me and my sister and nieces also his own daughter.
His own daughter actually went to prison to visit him but didn't want to cut him off as he was her dad.
I absolutely could not forgive her that. I understand it was difficult for her but she had a daughter who fortunately was left alone.
Luckily for us he died painfully just as he was due to be released. I celebrated that day. I've never spoken to her since, no idea where she is nor do I want to know. Anyway I am with your wife can't actually understand why you're not.

His username "therunningman" seems apt then - plop and run!

Is this true? I haven’t seen this anywhere else, just that he was whatsapping the one man who sent him images of kids. Still awful that he didnt report even if it’s that though.

Anyone got a link that has info about the whatsapp group?

Yes to this.

You may well find yourself on the receiving end of divorce papers the day your youngest child turns 18, OP.

You have sacrificed - and possibly will sacrifice in the future - so much for your father. This thing has damaged your marriage and your mental health. Why have you allowed this to happen? Was this man thinking of the impact on you when he committed his crime?

@Zwicky

Bloody well said!

I know someone who cut her father out of her life - and her children's lives - for a similar crime. I've always admired her for her decision. It wasn't the easy one and she was blacklisted by the family members who chose to remain (in their eyes) loyal and loving offspring.

She saw through all that bullshit and realized the father/ grandfather had exerted a huge amount of control over the family all their lives, meaning it was guaranteed to be well nigh impossible for the rest of the family to see him as he really was, a pervert and misogynist whose only interest was power, gaining it over others and using it. Sexual crimes and crimes involving sexual abuse, whether direct or indirect, are crimes revolving around power.

Nothing of this nature ever happens in a vacuum.

You hint at seeing your sibling's ongoing relationship with your enabler mother and criminal father and your mixed feelings. I think you need to examine how power works in your family who wields it, how it is established and maintained. You will need to delve deep into your childhood experiences to get to the bottom of your feelings about this.

As an aside, does your wife trust you to keep your children safe?

Well said @Zwicky

My God, it's all very poor me. As for his wife, she works in safeguarding ffs Talk about minimising his crimes and as for the mollycoddling of him after he was caught, no words really

Let's have another hypothetical. Say your kids are sexually abused. Why would they tell you knowing you let grandad get away with it. Why would you stand up for your own?

Or would you just hope that if your dad touched your kids that they wouldn't put you in the awfully awkward situation of saying anything. Just get raped quietly like good little children so daddy isn't inconvenienced.