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Accusations of Abuse in Institutions

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The Press
October 11, 2003

'Greed' adds to victims' woes
by John Henzell


The greed of a man who falsely claimed he was among those abused by Catholic brothers has added to the burden of the real victims, the Christchurch District Court has been told.

Justin Richardson, 34, received more than $100,000 in compensation from the St John of God Order after claiming he was among more than 70 men who were sexually abused by Catholic brothers at Marylands school.

Richardson acted as a spokesmen for some of the victims to force the order to raise its initial compensation offers, but police inquiries found he invented his own claim of being sodomised by two of the brothers. The reality was he suffered nothing worse than homesickness.

In the Christchurch District Court yesterday, Richardson pleaded guilty to two charges of making false statements about the abuse and was told by Judge Stephen Erber that a jail term is "utterly inevitable".

The judge said the offending was not just serious, because of the amount of money involved -- Richardson had spent all but $10,000 on cars and high living -- but because of the effect on the genuine victims.

"Quite apart from the fraud itself, there is an attitude of doubt and scepticism at claimants whose claims are justified," he said. "They will come under greater scrutiny and a great deal more assiduity than might be the case or might be warranted."

On Monday, the lawyer for one of the Catholic brothers facing 33 charges of sexually abusing the boys at Marylands had told the court that the $4 million compensation on offer had made it "a clamour for cash" and "scramble for payment".

Nigel Hampton, QC, lawyer for former brother Bernard McGrath, said the St John of God Order appeared to have a policy of "you say it, and we pay it".

News that Richardson had invented his claim had led to outright anger among the genuine victims, according to Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse Trust manager Ken Clearwater. Richardson had poured out his soul and shed tears alongside the other men at support meetings, who now felt that their trust had been betrayed, he said.

"When I went home, after hearing the news, I wanted to punch him myself, because of the effect it's going to have on the genuine cases," Mr Clearwater said.

"I'm concerned for him and his safety. The guys are ropeable."

One of the genuine victims, identified only as Dave, said at the time that "a few guys would like to string (Richardson) up".

"If I was him I'd be taking a walk somewhere. He has undermined everything we have done in the last year," he added.

Gerald Lascelles, for Richardson, told the court yesterday that Richardson had an extended psychiatric history, including frequent intervention by emergency psychiatric services in Christchurch since 1996.

Out of the $101,780 given to Richardson by the order, $10,000 had been paid back, but Mr Lascelles said he would be able to arrange for a further $20,000 to be paid. He sought bail for his client, who he said lived with a responsible person, who could keep an eye on him, on the basis that prison "might not necessarily be inevitable".

Judge Erber rejected the assertion, and remanded Richardson in custody.