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The Press
October 22, 2003
Recanting may not mean reimbursing
by Leah Haines
People paid compensation for sexual abuse may not have to repay the money if
they later recant their claims.
ACC confirmed yesterday that the corporation would definitely pursue people
who had lied about being sexually abused to get ACC payouts. However, those
who thought they had been abused and later realised they had not would not
necessarily be hounded for the money back. Their compensation payments could
be stopped, however.
ACC is waiting for Justin Todd Richardson to be sentenced for falsely
accusing Catholic brothers at Christchurch's Marylands School of abusing him.
It could review any compensation paid to him on the understanding he was
abused at the school.
Richardson, one of 70 men who claim to have been abused by the brothers, was
given $100,000 in compensation from the school and an unknown amount by ACC.
National welfare spokeswoman Katherine Rich asked questions of ACC Minister
Ruth Dyson about the issue this week, wanting to be sure that people who
mistakenly believed they had been abused could recant without the fear of
being financially punished.
She asked Ms Dyson whether any children who received compensation for being
sexually abused by Peter Ellis at the Christchurch Civic Creche had told the
corporation they no longer thought they had been abused.
One girl is known to have recanted her allegations at Mr Ellis' appeal in
1994.
Ms Dyson said ACC was not aware of anyone else recanting such abuse
allegations. But if they did, the situation would be investigated and any
compensation they were getting could be discontinued.
ACC Risk and Assurance Manager Ernest Le Roux added that the decision to
prosecute someone came down to whether they intended to defraud the
corporation.
If it was an honest mistake, ACC would decide whether to seek re- payment
based on the person's circumstances.
"If, for instance, a person was in deep debt, as a Government agency we
would not look to drive them deeper into their debt."
ACC has been criticised for paying out for sexual abuse without requiring the
victim to name the abuser or lay a criminal complaint.
It pays for counselling and medical expenses for sex abuse victims, and gives
them an independence allowance ranging from $10 to $61 a week, paid
quarterly.
ACC reintroduced lump-sum payments of up to $100,000 on April 1 last year to
those injured after that date.
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