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Allegations
of Abuse in Institutions |
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The High Court in
Wellington this morning began hearing the case of a woman claiming more than
half a million dollars from the Catholic church for abuse she says she
suffered at an Upper Hutt orphanage. The woman claims she
was physically, sexually, verbally and emotionally abused at St Joseph's
orphanage in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Her name and the names
of the nuns allegedly involved are suppressed. The woman is reportedly
seeking $350,000 damages, $100,000 aggravated damages and $100,000 exemplary
damages and court costs. The defendants - the
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Wellington, Catholic Social Services, the
Sisters of Mercy (Wellington) Trust Board and St Joseph's Orphanage Trust
Board - deny the allegations. The hearing before Justice
Marion Frater is scheduled to take three weeks |
