Who? Richard Meeran, partner and co-head of Leigh Day’s international and group litigation department, London.
Why is he in the news? The firm is looking into potential legal claims against Harrods and the establishment of a wider public inquiry, following rape and sexual abuse allegations made in a BBC documentary that aired last week. Leigh Day is also representing an individual alleged to have been subjected to trafficking, rape and abuse.
Thoughts on the case: ‘The allegations of abuse surrounding Mohamed Al Fayed and Harrods should properly be described as human sex trafficking. Vulnerable young women were recruited and transferred to different locations and countries for the alleged purpose of sexual exploitation that entailed, and depended on, a systemic wrongdoing by Harrods, its senior managers and security personnel, as well as the ultimate perpetrator. They were allegedly subjected to rape, intimidation, coercion and intrusive sexual health examinations, the results of which were communicated to Harrods and MAF without their consent. Evidence of these sexual crimes was allegedly suppressed and even destroyed. We have spent the last few days speaking to numerous traumatised women. It is a truly shocking and sickening case.
‘Leigh Day is willing to act for women who wish to pursue claims against Harrods, and possibly other defendants, seeking compensation for physical and long-term psychological injury and financial loss. Harrods has stated that they are settling claims but these need to be independently reviewed and quantified so that survivors receive proper levels of damages.
‘Accountability also requires the establishment of a statutory public inquiry into the systemic wrongdoing outlined and the failure of the Met Police and CPS to prosecute.’
Harrods said: ‘Harrods of today is very different to the one owned by Al Fayed between 1985 and 2010. It seeks to put the welfare of our employees at the heart of everything we do. This is why, since new information came to light in 2023 about historical allegations of sexual abuse by Al Fayed, it has been our priority to settle claims in the quickest way possible. This process is still available for any current or former Harrods employees.’
Dealing with the media: ‘There has been more media interest in this case than almost any other that I have been involved in. I was even on telly twice at the weekend. The media obviously played a critical role in increasingly bringing to light the horrifying extent of MAF’s alleged sexual abuse and hopefully giving courage to the survivors by making them feel they are not alone. Of critical importance though was to respect the wishes and objectives of the survivors and their anonymity.’
