Allegations of Abuse in Institutions
	Salvation Army Homes - Main Index Index 2006
	The Timaru Herald May 20 2006 Settlements over sexual abuse claims by Rhonda Markby The Salvation Army has now settled all but a "very small handful" of the historical physical and sexual abuse complaints relating to incidents in its children's homes. Back in August 2003 the church acknowledged it had received 36 allegations of abuse, including five complaints from people who had been at the church's Bramwell Booth children's home at Temuka. Most of the complaints were from people who had lived in Salvation Army children's homes in Putararu and Masterton and related to incidents in the 1940s and 1950s, preceding the complaints which have now been made in relation to the Temuka home. Police confirmed yesterday that John Francis Gainsford, 69, retired of Auckland, will stand trial in the Timaru High Court on 28 charges of sexual violation and other indecencies on young people. Gainsford was the home's manager when the alleged offending occurred between January 1973 January 1975. Church spokesman Major Alistair Herring said there had been a range of settlements to complainants ranging from "meetings through to financial considerations". Mr Herring would not disclose how much the settlements had cost the church. "We have never held these folk to confidentiality from their point of view... but most of them just want to move on." It appears the Bramwell Booth complainants are the only ones who have gone to the police. "We have consistently advised complainants that they should always seek advice if they have any uncertainties." Mr Herring said complainants had always been told if they wished to lay a complaint with the police, the Salvation Army would cooperate with police. "Those people (who have gone to the police) have taken an individual action of their own. The police have contacted us about that and we have cooperated fully with them in their investigation." Mr Herring said in some cases the army has dealt with in the last two- and-a-half years, the complainants had simply wanted to talk to about their experiences. Others were seeking recognition of what had happened and wanted an apology. The church had assisted with counselling for some of the complainants. It is understood some of the seven who have gone to the police have resolved their complaints with the church.