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Allegations of Abuse
in Institutions |
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The Salvation Army has admitted it
paid compensation to the sex abuse victims of former officer John Francis
Gainsford and concedes it could have handled the matter better. Gainsford, 69, of Auckland, was
found guilty in the High Court at Timaru last week on three charges of rape,
one of attempted rape and 18 of indecency, dating back to his time at the
Bramwell Booth Children's Home in the 1970s. He admitted four further indecency
charges during the trial, and was acquitted on one charge. Most of the counts
involved girls under the age of 12. Salvation Army spokesman Major
Ross Gower told The Press yesterday that the understanding of child abuse and
inappropriate behaviour at the time was not as good as it is today. At the time complaints first
surfaced Gainsford, a Salvation Army captain who had been at the home two
years, was transferred and later dismissed. "At that stage, we deemed we
had appropriately dealt with it." As time passed, policies had
changed. "Now, (it) ... would be handled in a different manner."
The Salvation Army would now put matters in the hands of the police if deemed
necessary, he said. Since Gainsford's crimes, checks
had been put in place, including screening and accountability procedures for
staff, Gower said. The Salvation Army had paid
compensation to some of the victims, but Gower would not say how many or how
much. The agreements had been amicable.
Not all wanted compensation, some just wanting the Salvation Army to hear
their stories, he said. The payouts were not "hush
money," and he encouraged any further complainants to come forward. The Salvation Army recognised it
was a difficult time, and wanted to support victims, Gower said. The home in question now houses
psychiatric patients. The Crown alleged Gainsford, a
farmer turned Salvationist, sexually abused seven girls and a boy at the
home, using them for his sexual gratification "wherever and
whenever" he wanted. Gainsford was remanded in custody
until December 13 for sentencing. |
