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Allegations of Abuse
in Institutions |
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A Timaru jury has returned 22
guilty verdicts in the case of a former Salvation Army captain accused of
sexually abusing children. 69 year old John Gainsford had
denied the 23 charges of sex abuse dating back to the 1970s when he was
manager of the Bramwell Booth Salvation Army Children's Home in Temuka. He had earlier admitted four
charges. The Salvation Army hopes people
abused by one of its former officers can now regain some normality in their
lives. Major Ross Gower says the Sallies
have already expressed sympathy to the victims. He says that some of the more than
50 complainants who contacted the Salvation Army have already received
compensation. Major Gower hopes Gainsford's
conviction will provide some sort of closure for them. Gainsford will be sentenced on
December 11. |
