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September 6, 2002
Nun at centre of abuse claims living in NZ - report
NZPA
Sydney:
A nun at the centre of child abuse allegations at a Brisbane orphanage in the
1950s and 1960s, and who was said to be dead, is reported to be living in
Christchurch.
In a document filed in the Queensland Supreme Court in July last year, the
Sisters of Nazareth said three key figures in the allegations, including Sister
Bernard Mary, were no longer alive.
However, Sister Bernard, who is in her 60s, was at present head of the Sisters
of Nazareth in
At the time the document was filed, she was understood to be the order's
worldwide leader based in
The claim that she was dead was contained in a statement of defence by the
Trustees of the Poor Sisters of Nazareth, the second defendant in a case
brought by one of five women seeking compensation for alleged abuse at Nazareth
House.
The
She alleges that she was raped by a priest, Father John O'Regan, and frequently
assaulted by Sister Bernard and another nun, Sister Philomena.
Sister Bernard, who was second in charge at Nazareth House from 1958 to 1964,
has denied all allegations.
The trustees' statement of defence read: "The second defendant has
conducted some reasonable inquiries to date, but those inquiries are incomplete
and may always be incomplete, inter alia, due to the death of Sister Bernard
Mary, Sister Philomena and Father O'Regan."
The Australian newspaper said the deaths of Sister Philomena and Father O'Regan
were not in dispute.
It said the order's regional superior, Sister Clare Breen, denied any knowledge
of the court document.