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The
Press
July 2 1993
No Ellis Inquiry, says Banks
by Oliver Riddell in Wellington
A call for an
inquiry into the investigation and prosecution of Peter Ellis for child,
molestation at the Christchurch Civic Childcare Centre has been rejected by
the Minister of Police, Mr Banks.
Replying to a letter from Ms Gaye Davidson; the former supervisor of the
childcare centre and one of three women working there who were subsequently
discharged by the High Court, Mr Banks said: "I cannot for the life of
me understand why you and your friends continue to support this convicted
child molester.
"I was not Impressed with your submission; I was more impressed with
what the sentencing judge (Mr Justice Williamson) had to say than responding
to pleas in mitigation from people who have little or no community
support."
A copy of Ms Davidson's letter of May 24 - sent before Ellis's conviction -
and of Mr Banks's reply has been secured by "The Press" after an
application under the Official Information Act. Ms Davidson approached Mr
Banks in her capacity as speaker for the Civic Childcare Inquiry
Organisation.
"We will not let the matter lie," Ms Davidson said. "We
consider it affords the Government the opportunity to take the initiative to
bring about changes in this area to ensure that the true allegations of
sexual abuse are handled properly, and false allegations do not get out of
hand."
An official inquiry was necessary regardless of what happened at the Ellis
trial, she said. An inquiry should be announced as soon as the trial was
completed.
Children who had not been the victims of any sexual abuse had been treated as
victims of it, she said. Ms Davidson listed 20 concerns about the way the
investigation had been done and the children treated.
New Zealand
had to learn from overseas experience, such as in the Orkneys, so guidelines
were set for dealing with similar cases.
That way, cases of true abuse could be exposed and dealt with appropriately,
so children were not damaged as a result of the way such cases were handled,
Ms Davidson said.
Mr Banks replied that from his knowledge of the circumstances and court
decisions, there was no need for an official inquiry
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