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Accusations of Abuse in Institutions

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The Press
June 29, 2002

Lifting the veil on abuse 20 years on

Old photographs, like certain smells, can send us tumbling back through time, stirring memories, reawakening emotions.

Take the picture on the right, found in The Press picture library, freezing on film a brief exchange between a brother and a boy at a gathering in 1980 of the Catholic Order of St John of God's Marylands residential school for boys in Halswell.

The young boy looking into the eyes of Brother William Lebler is Brian Uttinger. In the background wearing glasses is Brother Bernard McGrath. Behind this photograph, and its image of trust and happiness, is a tale of horrific sexual abuse -- in which McGrath was a central figure and Brian Uttinger a principal victim.

Brian Uttinger is today aged 36 and is determined to break the last shackles of secrecy around the abuse he suffered at Marylands in the 1970s. McGrath was eventually convicted for his crimes against Mr Uttinger and other children during his service with the order. But Mr Uttinger says his life has been devastated by his experience, even with the payment of $95,000 in compensation by the order.

Brother William has also been implicated in the scandal. A former Marylands pupil has received $30,000 as compensation for the alleged abuse he says took place in the 1960s. Brother William, in his 80s and who now lives in Australia, denies the allegations.

Mr Uttinger's story has helped drive The Press' investigation into the scandal. It was first reported last week, but his identity was kept secret because of a court suppression order which applied following McGrath's conviction. Mr Uttinger's determination that his experience should be fully exposed prompted The Press to seek -- with his backing -- the lifting of the suppression order in court this week.

The Press today continues its scrutiny of the St John of God's troubled past.

This week reporter Yvonne Martin travelled to Sydney, the order's Australasian base, to uncover more of the truth of the offending of McGrath and some of his colleagues. In today's Mainlander the newspaper also explores the Church's response to the sort of scandal that has turned to full-blown crises for catholicism in America and Australia.

In a column, the Editor of The Weekend Press, Cate Brett, says: "Holding the Church to public account for its trespasses against the likes of the eight-year-old boy at St John of God may be a small first step in what will inevitably be a painful process for all.

"Whether those who cling grimly to the power within the Catholic Church will recognise this potential in time to salvage Christianity from the ashes of the institution remain to be seen."