Lord Janner: Father of mentally ill woman who killed herself before standing trial criticises decision not to prosecute former Labour peer

The woman was due to stand trial for making false rape claims

David de Freitas has attacked the Crown Prosecution Service for not pressing charges against Lord Janner (PA)

The father of a mentally ill woman who killed herself days before she stood trial for making false rape claims has criticised the decision not to prosecute Lord Janner due to his dementia.

David de Freitas has attacked the Crown Prosecution Service for not pressing charges against the former Labour peer due to his ill health after his daughter was prosecuted despite being a known suicide risk.

Mr de Freitas’ daughter Eleanor killed herself in April last year, just as she was due to stand trial for perverting the course of justice.

The 23-year-old had a history of mental health problems and was suffering from bipolar disorder.

At the inquest into her death last month, the court heard the trial was a significant “stressor” in her life at the time she killed herself.

Alison Saunders, the Director of Public Prosecutions, said that the CPS had been right to pursue charges against Eleanor but Mr de Freitas said the decision to prosecute her and not Lord Janner implied a double standard.

He said: “In a matter of a prosecution for something more severe than perverting the course, it is clearly wrong that the interests of a member of 'the establishment' should have precedence over the interests of a vulnerable 23-year-old young woman.

“The CPS do have a duty to monitor the state of health of the person they are considering prosecuting - the DPP is right there. How is it then that the CPS made no attempt at such monitoring of Eleanor?

"As far as I am aware, there is no marked risk of suicide for those who suffer from dementia. Why is dementia worthy of consideration and not bipolar?”

Lord Greville Janner, was MP for Leicester West between 1970 and 1997 before being elevated to the House of Lords where he sat until Labour suspended the whip last week.

The 86-year-old is accused of using his position to abuse vulnerable young boys at a children’s home in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.

Earlier this week Ms Saunders said there was enough evidence to prosecute Lord Janner but due to his advanced dementia, his testimony could not be relied on in court. His family deny all the charges against him.

Some of Lord Janner’s alleged victims are considering legal action following the CPS decision.