Investigation of Bétharram case: Daughter of François Bayrou claims meeting with rape inquiry officer in 1998
With the release of "The Silence of Bétharram," the spotlight shines on François Bayrou
The book's publication on April 24 has fanned the flames of a discussion surrounding François Bayrou, now Prime Minister of France, and his knowledge of the incidents at Notre-Dame de Bétharram. In an interview with the media, Hélène Perlant recounted a conversation with her father in 1998.
According to her, Bayrou met investigating judge Christian Mirande in 1998, while he was probing an ex-director of Notre-Dame de Bétharram, Father Carricart, accused of abuse. Confirming her account, Bayrou initially denied the meeting but later acknowledged a casual and informal discussion about the accusations against Father Carricart.
He emphasized that the conversation stayed clear of case details and that Judge Mirande, his long-time neighbor, had never communicated any such details. Bayrou maintains that he was unaware of the harmful nature of the establishment, where hundreds of former students are now speaking out about physical, psychological, or sexual violence across several decades.
Perlant's Revelations
Interestingly, Hélène Perlant herself has denounced being struck by a religious figure at the school but never consulted her father about the incident until 2020. In another twist, LFI deputy and co-rapporteur of the inquiry commission, Paul Vannier, has accused Bayrou of breaching the secrecy of the investigation, with his statements seemingly at odds with Hélène Perlant's account.
Vannier, referring to Hélène Perlant's earlier claim about the Prime Minister's representation of "slaps" within the establishment, pointed out that she had no memory of discussing this with him. In response, Hélène Perlant stated, "He's a bit full of himself, because I didn't talk about anything."
Investigation and Questions
Claiming never to have interfered in any judicial matter, Bayrou has assured that he has also never violated the secrecy of investigations. However, former gendarme Alain Hontangs alleges that Bayrou did, in fact, receive a warning from Judge Mirande regarding an "intervention" in the case.
Bayrou is due to be questioned by the parliamentary inquiry commission on May 14, as it probes the responsible parties and failings within state control services related to the abuse allegations at Notre-Dame de Bétharram. As the story unfolds, France awaits further revelations and answers to the ongoing controversy.
- Investigating judge Christian Mirande, a long-time neighbor of François Bayrou, met Bayrou in 1998 during an investigation into an ex-director of Notre-Dame de Bétharram, Father Carricart, accused of abuse.
- In response to Hélène Perlant's claims that Bayrou warned her about "slaps" within the establishment, LFI deputy and co-rapporteur of the inquiry commission, Paul Vannier, accused Bayrou of breaching the secrecy of the investigation by discussing case details.
- Former gendarme Alain Hontangs has alleged that Bayrou received a warning from Judge Mirande regarding an "intervention" in the case, a claim Bayrou denies.
- As the story unfolds, the parliamentary inquiry commission will question François Bayrou on May 14, investigating responsible parties and failings within state control services related to the abuse allegations at Notre-Dame de Bétharram.
