THE refusal of a former chair of the inquiry into historical child abuse to give evidence has been branded “disgraceful” in a MP committee’s report published last night.

In a damning assessment of the ongoing fiasco surrounding the Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, the home affairs select committee condemned the refusal of Dame Lowell Goddard to give oral evidence and suggested she could be summoned to appear before the committee, “if she returns to the UK.”

The New Zealander, the third chair to quit the inquiry, stepped down after she was accused of using racist language and inappropriate behaviour, allegations she strenuously denies.