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Accusations of Abuse in Institutions

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Stuff
September 3, 2002

More than 100 calls in school sex abuse case
NZPA

More than 100 men have a rung a tollfree number about sex abuse at a former Christchurch Catholic residential school since the issue was raised 10 weeks ago.

The number of men who have complained to the St John of God Order about abuse suffered as boys at Marylands was released today by the church.

Brother Peter Burke, the Australasian head of the order which ran the school for boys with intellectual and learning problems until 1984, has advised complainants to go to the police.

He came to New Zealand and personally met 70 former students who told stories of abuse while at school.

"I would like to encourage anyone and everyone else who feels they have a story to tell to come forward too," Br Burke said in a statement.

"It's a shocking tragedy and one I am determined to work through until we get some sort of resolution that goes at least some of the way towards healing the hurt for these people," he said.

He will return to New Zealand at the end of this week for more meetings.

"I would be very hopeful I will be able to get back to everyone who has contacted us by the end if not the middle of September."

Christchurch police have assigned six staff to take complaints.

The complaints received by the order implicate four brothers and two senior students at Marylands. One of the two brothers remaining in the order has been stood down while the matter is investigated, and another is retired.