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Accusations of Abuse in Institutions

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The Press
July 20, 2002

Abuse complaints legitimate - brother
by Yvonne Martin

The troubled Catholic order facing a new wave of sex abuse allegations against its brothers plans to seek independent advice on the claims.

Brother Peter Burke, the Australasian leader of the St John of God Order, has spent the last four days meeting with 19 men who claim they were abused as boys at the former Marylands residential school, run by the brothers.

Another Christchurch complainant is planning to fly to the order's Sydney headquarters this month to seek redress independently.

Brother Burke described the complaints as "legitimate" in a statement yesterday. He said he would be returning to Sydney to piece together the story.

Depending on whether any complaints proceeded to a criminal prosecution, Brother Burke would then approach a qualified professional, possibly a retired judge, to review the material and advise him.

"Unfortunately, there is nothing more definitive that I can say at this time," he said. "Suffice to say that this issue is my major priority at the moment and will remain so until we get somewhere close to a satisfactory resolution for absolutely everyone concerned."

One complainant who met Brother Burke at a group meeting on Tuesday felt many of the men had high expectations.

"One of the guys wants millions of dollars. I think they are going to be greatly disappointed," he said.

Money had not been specifically mentioned at the meeting, he said.

Brother Burke said this was the first of many visits to New Zealand, and he encouraged complainants to go to the police.

He said it was crucial for the order to front up and deal with the issues "once and for all", but failed to keep an appointment yesterday with The Press
.

Instead, the order's public relations manager issued a two-page written statement on his behalf.

Brother Burke said his first priority was to meet with complainants, not the media, although he did do television and radio interviews.

The Press
has also received more calls from women who were physically abused as girls at the St Joseph's orphanage in Halswell, run by the Sisters of the Good Shepherd from the 1930s to 1950s.

Two callers said they were subjected to regular cruelties, but were unaware that 14 women received a secret payout from the sisters after mediation in Christchurch last December. One caller said she was "astounded" to read about the mediation. She is now taking legal advice.