A VICTIM of a "masonic conspiracy" which sparked Jack Straw's assault on the secret society today called for the Lancashire police officers and other lodge members who were involved to be unmasked.

Mr Sidney Callis said the United Grand Lodge of England should be forced to name the officers who were part of the controversy centred on the Moat House Hotel, Blackburn - now called The County Hotel.

A Home Affairs Select Committee this week ordered the Grand Lodge of England to name members involved in a number of notorious police inquiries, including the Birmingham pub bombings the John Stalker affair.

The order coincides with moves by Home Secretary and Blackburn MP Jack Straw to force judges, police and others in the criminal justice system to declare masonic membership.

Under the proposals, existing employees in the criminal justice system will be urged to register voluntarily, with the United Grand Lodge challenged to co-operate.

Mr Straw has pledged to change the law as soon as possible.

Today Mr Callis, 62, said: "The majority of those people in court denied they were masons.

"It is about time we discovered how many of those involved in this were police officers." Mr Callis and his son Shaun were awarded an out of court settlement - believed to be £100,000 - after wrongly being accused of assaulting policemen at an event organised by the Masonic Victory Lodge, Blackburn.

They were found not guilty of assault charges at Lancaster Crown Court in 1989 after claiming that they had been attacked by policemen at the event.

The Leicester men had visited Lancashire at the invitation of Barnoldswick-based furniture company Silentnight.

Summing up at Lancaster Crown Court, the Judge said the two men had either carried out an assault or been victims of "what could only be described as a conspiracy."

Mr Callis congratulated the Home Secretary for challenging the freemasons and revealed that he had been invited to address the parliamentary committee about his experiences.

But he said: "I said no because I have had it up to the back teeth with these people.

"The stress and strain over the last nine years has been huge.

"My son had a nervous breakdown as a result."

A Lancashire police spokesman said a full investigation had been carried out at the time and a settlement made.

She added: "At the moment there is no legal requirement for officers to reveal membership of the Masons."

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