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The Dominion
February 5, 2000
Leave the children alone - psychologist
NZPA
A
suggestion by Lesley Ellis, mother of convicted child abuser Peter Ellis,
that the children at the centre of the case be included in an inquiry has
been criticised by an Auckland
University
psychologist.
John Read, senior lecturer in psychology, said Ellis's continued
protestations of innocence were further trauma for the families and children
involved in the case.
Ellis, 42, was freed this week after serving seven years of a 10-year
sentence imposed for 16 charges of sexually abusing children at the
Christchurch Civic Creche. In 1994 three counts of abuse were quashed at
appeal.
"Most child abusers are never convicted or charged and even after
conviction, the media and government authorities continue to cast doubt on
the truthfulness of those children (in the Ellis case)," Dr Read said.
"It's understandable that people tend not to believe that this sort of
stuff happens . . . but how many child abusers actually confess and say,
`Fair cop, I did it'?"
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