After the Lianne case: how cases of violence against children are being reviewed in Boulogne-sur-Mer

Boulogne-sur-Mer – 12 July 2026: At the Boulogne-sur-Mer courthouse, proceedings do not begin with a major hearing, but with case files, telephone calls and a question that cannot wait: could a child currently be in danger? France Télévisions accompanied a prosecutor there as she reviewed ongoing proceedings involving suspected violence against minors. Details of specific cases were not publicly disclosed.

The case of eleven-year-old Lianne from Fleurance in the Gers department raised questions across the country about the handling of previous reports and complaints. The French Ministry of Justice stated that a man who had previously been the subject of three proceedings for sexual offences was taken into custody on 1 June for the abduction and unlawful deprivation of liberty of a minor under the age of 15. Lianne was found dead on 4 June.

Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin instructed prosecutors on 8 June to prioritise proceedings concerning sexual offences against children. Police and gendarmerie are to inform prosecutors immediately of complaints and reports received. They must then be able to quickly determine which investigative actions and protective measures are needed. Particular attention is being given to proceedings in which the alleged victims are still minors.

By 14 July, prosecutors’ offices must submit an overview of already registered ongoing proceedings to the ministry. At the end of June, this concerned 88,000 re-examined reports of sexual abuse of children. However, this figure does not describe uniform cases and does not replace an individual review of each case. Above all, it shows the scale of a task that requires both legal precision and swift decisions from prosecutors’ offices.

The scene in Boulogne-sur-Mer demonstrates the gap between the instruction from Paris and everyday work on the ground. Each case must be read to determine whether investigative steps remain outstanding, whether signals were overlooked, and whether a new urgency has arisen. Prosecutors do not decide questions of guilt or innocence. They direct investigations, assess risks and, where necessary, initiate immediate steps.

At the same time, a joint mission of justice, gendarmerie and education inspectorates is examining the course of events in Lianne’s case. The preliminary report, published on 22 June, is intended above all to clarify how the complaint filed in August 2025 was handled and whether shortcomings occurred. The investigation concerns procedures and the distribution of responsibilities; it does not definitively establish personal responsibility.

For court staff in Boulogne-sur-Mer, the instruction remains concrete: no case should disappear from view simply because of its age. The 14 July deadline is therefore more than an administrative deadline. It is intended to show which proceedings remain open and where investigations, victim protection or decision-making need to be accelerated.