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Allegations
of Abuse in Institutions |
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The feelings of a woman
accusing Catholic organisations of abuse and neglect may strongly influence
her perception of what happened to her, a psychiatrist says. Dr Tony Marks is the
second psychiatrist to give evidence about the woman, now 45, who alleges
various forms of abuse while in Catholic care in the 1960s and 70s. The psychiatrists agree
on her diagnoses but have told Justice Frater, who is hearing the case in the
High Court at Wellington, that they disagree on the reliance that can be
placed on the claimant's recall of events. Dr Marks said yesterday
that the claimant's inherited characteristics and early life experiences
would be enough to account for a large part of the adult dysfunction she now
has. Much was linked to the
first seven years before her parents separated and the loss, rejection and
deprivation from her parents in the years that followed, he said. The diagnoses the
psychiatrists agreed was depression, generalised anxiety disorder with panic
attacks, alcohol abuse and possible dependency, and a cluster of personality
disorders. Dr Marks said the
personality disorders tended to make people dramatic, emotional and erratic. He is to be
cross-examined today. The claimant is suing
Wellington's Roman Catholic Archdiocese, Catholic Social Services, the
Sisters of Mercy (Wellington) Trust Board, and St Joseph's Orphanage Trust
Board for $550,000. The claim is opposed on legal and factual grounds. The names of the
claimant and many others involved in the case have been suppressed in the meantime.
The nun in charge of St
Joseph's Orphanage from 1972-79, Sister Mary Agnes Finucane, said she never
saw the claimant verbally abused or screamed at. She recalled Catholic
Social Services was concerned that the claimant risked becoming institutionalised.
Justice Frater asked
whether some girls needed extra attention or emotional support. Sister Agnes
said she supposed some did but got lost in the crowd. |
