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Accusations of Abuse in Institutions

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The Press
June 22, 2002

Details of abuse surface
by Yvonne Martin

A Christchurch man has been paid nearly $95,000 by a Catholic order after sex abuse he suffered at Marylands boarding school in the 1970s.

Several fresh complainants are emerging to tell their stories and seek justice from the Order of St John of God, which is at the centre of the escalating trans- Tasman sex scandal.

The latest secret deal for $94,900 is part of the $300,000 the order has paid to five New Zealanders claiming they were sexually and physically abused in the 1960s and 1970s.

All five New Zealanders were subject to strict confidentiality clauses that threatened to reclaim the money if they spoke of their claims or the agreements.

The Christchurch man, named Joseph, now 36, is the second former Marylands boarder to speak out about his boyhood ordeal.

He was sexually abused in the mid- 1970s by a Marylands brother, Bernard Kevin McGrath, who was convicted and jailed for the abuse 20 years on.

Joseph's agreement, seen by The Press, does not admit any wrong-doing on the order's part.

The first man to speak out, Patrick, now 51, was paid $30,000 in July 1999 after a Catholic protocol committee's investigation into his claims of sex abuse by a brother.

Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse Trust manager Ken Clearwater has had inquiries from 10 former Marylands pupils from the 1960s and 1970s and is advocating on their behalf. He has accused the Church of paying hush money to bury a potential scandal.

The Press has heard from three new complainants.

Meanwhile, two complainants, and the parents of a third, have contacted the order directly in Australia.

The Church's hired public relations manager, Simon Feely, said the parents rang to talk about alleged abuse, not to pursue money.

Brother Peter Burke, the Australasian head of the St John of God Order, has urged fresh complainants to contact him directly or through other parties, including the police.