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An
advertisement claiming that sexual abuse hysteria had gone too far drew
criticism yesterday from a spokeswoman for some of the parents of children
involved in the Christchurch Civic Creche case. When
former civic creche workers Gaye Davidson, Debbie Gillespie, Jan Buckingham
and Marie Keys announced the launch of the incorporated society Facade (False
Accusations of Child Abuse Damage Everyone) last week they said the sexual
abuse "industry" had created a climate of fear in The
group's half-page advertisement in yesterday's Sunday Times posed questions
such as "are you nervous about being alone with the neighbour's
child?" and said though there was no sympathy for child abusers a public
inquiry was needed into handling of the civic creche case, as well as child
abuse therapy throughout New Zealand. A
spokeswoman for some of the parents and children involved in the civic crèche
case, Ann Marie Stapp of "When
they (the four) women were discharged from the charges made against them they
stated they believed Peter Ellis was innocent and would continue to support
him. "I
think the parents are concerned that's the implicit agenda of this
campaign," she said, on TV3 news. Ms
Stapp said there were protocols and procedures already in place to arrest and
charge people if they made false statements and said she found it bewildering
the former workers were "asking for the reinvention of the wheel". Ms
Davidson said last night that Facade had no hidden agenda; nor had it been
set up to support Peter Ellis. "We
formed it to support people who may have wrongly been accused of child
abuse." People
could send a coupon in the advertisement indicating whether they wanted more
information, were interested in a public meeting or include details of their
own experience. Donations could also be sent to help
campaign costs. |
