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Accusations of Abuse in Institutions

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The Dominion
June 27, 2002

Brother stood down as abuse scandal escalates
NZPA

A Catholic leader has been stood down from duties after fresh abuse allegations were made against him as a sex scandal escalates in the St John of God order.

Brother Rodger Moloney, who was in charge of the order's residential school, Marylands, in Christchurch as prior in the 1970s, has been ordered to step aside from his present leadership role in Sydney while allegations against him are investigated.

The head of the order in Australia and New Zealand, Brother Peter Burke, has been contacted by six new former Marylands pupils claiming they were abused by brothers working there in the 1970s.

Brother Burke has been informed through the order's lawyers that the police have heard from another five complainants -- three from Invercargill and two from Christchurch.

The order is setting up a toll-free hotline for people who believe they are victims to report abuse to the order's Sydney headquarters. Brother Burke is also urging people to contact police with their complaints.

Brother Moloney, now 67, left Marylands in 1977, and since then has risen to be Brother Burke's third councillor. He sits on the provincial council, the governing body of the order in Australasia.

The order is under siege on both sides of the Tasman by people claiming sexual and physical abuse by members of the brotherhood. Four former Christchurch brothers have had allegations made against them. None remain working for the order.

So far, the order has paid out $300,000 to five New Zealand complainants, who claim they were abused in the 1960s and 1970s, on condition they kept quiet about their claims and agreements. The order has since instructed its lawyers not to use the controversial confidentiality clauses in future deals.

Two complainants, known as Patrick and Joseph, who told their stories to the media, have been reassured by the order that they will not be penalised for speaking out.

Brother Burke said new allegations have also been made against a former Marylands brother, Bernard Kevin McGrath, who was jailed for three years in 1993 after admitting ten indecencies against boys.