|
|
Allegations
of Abuse in Institutions |
|
|
|
|
"Well, I won't be
buying it," says former patient Stephen McMahon * of Palmerston North,
speaking about the Lake Alice mental health facility. But he doesn't want the
village complex, listed for sale last week, turned into a backpackers' lodge
or other accommodation. "Really, it should
be bulldozed. I wouldn't want anything like a lodge built there. Maybe it
should be made into a place that could really help children in need, rather than
what it was." Mr McMahon * was at
Lake Alice from age 13 to 16. He says he was raped and tortured at the
hospital, and injected with the painful drug paraldehyde and given
electroconvulsive shock treatment without anaesthetic. The 47 year old was one
of a group of patients who received a public apology and a share of the $10.7
million compensation paid by the Government. The Government put the
56ha Lake Alice complex on the market this month and will be running open
days before the sale on June 28. Mr McMahon * said he
was not interested in returning for one of the open days, though he did go
back with Manawatu Standard reporter Lee Matthews two years ago. At the time, he said he
had to return, and noted, "I'll never understand why they did this to
us." Lake Alice caretaker
Barney Conlon said few former patients had returned. * Name changed on
request |
