The inquiry into Establishment child abuse could last up to eight years, twice as long as first thought, it was claimed today.

The controversial probe into allegations of decades of abuse and cover-up has been dogged by delays, with two chairmen force to resign, and might not even start for another six months.

But abuse survivors condemned the suggestion it might not finish until 2023, warning: ‘Justice delayed is justice denied.’

The inquiry, which has been a shambles since it was announced last July, will investigate whether public bodies, including governments, charities, the Church and BBC, failed to protect children.

Home Secretary Theresa May was forced to scour the globe to find a chairman for the inquiry, after fears leading figures in the UK would be seen as too close to the Establishment.

Lowell Goddard, a High Court judge in New Zealand, was appointed in February when she said leading the inquiry was the ‘biggest challenge’ she has ever faced.