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The man at the centre of the investigation into
possible sexual abuse at the Civic Child Care Centre has started legal
proceedings against the Christchurch City Council for unfair dismissal. The
man was dismissed from the centre last month as the police continued their
investigation into allegations from parents of children at the centre that
their children may have been sexually abused. A friend of the man said last night
that he had started legal proceedings in an attempt to clear his name even
though he had not yet been charged. He was innocent of all allegations, the
friend said. The man was first suspended from the centre last
November while an allegation of sexual abuse was investigated. The police
found no evidence of sexual abuse and did not interview the man. New allegations subsequently arose and the man was
dismissed for no apparent reason, according to his union. The friend said the man was "bearing up"
under the intense public and news media interest in the situation. He had the support of family, friends, and some
parents of children at the centre, the friend said. Some parents believed the man could not have done
what was alleged. "He's got a lot of people backing him. Many
people think there's no way he could have done any of this. "He cares for children too much." The friend said the man had "laughed"
when the allegations were first made because he thought they were so silly. The Christchurch City Council has refused to comment
on why the man was dismissed. A meeting of parents with children at the centre
dating back to 1986 has been called on Tuesday by police and the Department
of Social Welfare to inform parents of the situation. Letters have been sent to 180 families notifying
them of the meeting. Some
parents have said they will not attend as they are certain their
children have not been sexually abused, and so want to opt out of the
investigation. |
