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The Dominion
March 17 1995
Call for public inquiry
by Alan Samson
Victoria University sociology professor Mike Hill said last night that it was
time for a public inquiry into the Christchurch Civic Childcare Centre
affair.
He said the decision of Judge Tom Goddard cast doubt on whether the alleged
incidents at the creche happened.
Former childcare worker Peter Ellis is serving a 10-year jail sentence after
being convicted of indecency offences.
"The implication is that the allegations made were sufficiently bizarre
not to be believed in any action for dismissal," Dr Hill said.
Dr Hill is widely acknowledged as an expert on ritual abuse and has studied a
number of New Zealand
cases involving abuse allegations.
He said last night that another recent court case where accusations based
purely on recovered memory were dismissed highlighted the need for a wider
examination that would look beyond individual cases.
The authorities who were involved in preparing cases against such people
needed closer examination.
"Maybe this is the breakthrough," he said. "Maybe we will now
start to see the reality."
Marie Keys, one of the four women party to the Employment Court decision who had
earlier faced indecency charges, later dropped, said last night: "We're
obviously very pleased".
But she also said the parties had agreed not to make public statements till
this morning.
Earlier, former centre supervisor Gaye Davidson had described how, since her
acquittal on abuse charges, she had been on anti-depressants.
She said she still felt so threatened in public she had her hair dyed so as
not to be recognised.
All witnesses told the court they had felt the stigma of being associated
with the creche.
Those who had tried to get work elsewhere believed they were still
blacklisted by other childcare centres.
The lawyer for the women, Hans Van Schreven, would not comment.
Christchurch
acting mayor Morgan Fahey said it had been agreed that any council reaction
would be made through city manager Mike Richardson.
Mr Richardson also would not comment till this morning, saying an agreement
had been made at the request of the claimants not to speak earlier.
Peter Ellis's lawyer, Graham Panckhurst, would not comment.
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