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Accusations of Abuse in Institutions

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The Dominion
June 6, 2002

Trust tries to find other abuse victims

An Anglican church trust that owned a foster home where three children suffered sexual abuse is trying to track down other children who might also have been abused.

The Anglican Trust for Women and Children is believed to have paid $75,000 compensation to a woman who was sexually abused by Ramon Doughty, who ran Blackwood House in Herne Bay, Auckland, 30 years ago.

Last month Doughty, now 72, a retired builder from Matamata, admitted 20 charges of sexual abuse against three girls between 1967 and 1974. He will be sentenced next week in the High Court at Hamilton.

Trust chairwoman Dianne Kenderdine said there were other girls living at Blackwood House during Doughty's tenure who could also have been abused.

The trust had tried to contact former residents, but tracing them had so far proved unsuccessful because of the 30-year time lag, name changes after marriage, and frequent changes of address, she said.

The woman who has been paid compensation contacted the trust last March.

She was referred to the police to have her case investigated, Ms Kenderdine said. "This investigation led to a guilty plea by Ramon Doughty, and a subsequent private settlement by the trust with the woman concerned."

She said the trust had decided to pay compensation regardless of the outcome of the prosecution against Doughty. to help the victim get "her life back on track".

Ms Kenderdine declined to disclose the amount of compensation but a man who once lived at Blackwood said he had been told the amount was $75,000.

Meanwhile, three other victims have said they are struggling to recover from Doughty's abuse. All three women said they suspected the Anglican Trust had known of the abuse.

Yesterday, Auckland bishop John Paterson said he was mistaken when he said this week that the church had not been informed of the abuse case.

He had been told by Ms Kenderdine of the sexual abuse claims in the middle of last year, he said. But because the allegations did not involve clergy, he had not felt it was necessary for the church to take any further action. -- NZPA