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Allegations of Sexual
Abuse in NZ |
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Hiran Fernando has made a huge
contribution to the community and done many good things. That stands no
matter what. But Dr Fernando has abused his position of trust and committed
sex offences. The two are not connected. I was stunned at the extent to
which the defence argued, because he was a good and powerful man, he couldn't
do such things. People offend all the time who also do good things: one
doesn't change or minimise the other. Dr Fernando's offending has
resulted in many secondary victims, like his family, his friends, his
colleagues, those who investigated his crimes and the community. They all
deserve our empathy, particularly his wife and children. But Dr Fernando did not commit
victimless crimes. This letter is in response to your front-page spread
(October 13), which focused on Dr Fernando and didn't mention the victims
until comments were obtained from the crown prosecutor. What of his victims? How did they
feel when they were betrayed by a health professional? Did they feel ashamed
and confused? What was it like to have to tell a courtroom about a
humiliating experience and expose your secrets to strangers -- only to be
discredited by the defence counsel? How does it feel to have
high-profile community members say what happened didn't because they like and
respect the offender? It seems a tragedy that the 12
women who suffered as a result of Dr Fernando's abuse seem forgotten among
the community's bewilderment that such a good family man could do such
things. |
