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The Press
November 8, 2003
Order to pay more to abuse victims
by Yvonne Martin
A
Catholic order embroiled in a sex- abuse scandal is about to make more payouts,
on top of the $4 million-plus it has already awarded.
The St John of God Order made the first offers of compensation last March to 56
men allegedly abused at a
Now the order has made financial offers to another 17 men. This time it refused
to say what the total offer was worth, while the men were considering their
letters.
The order continues to receive abuse complaints and said it was dealing with
each case on its merits.
Brother Peter Burke, the Australasian head of the order, told the latest
complainants that the offer was made in good faith and believed to be fair and
reasonable.
"It may not be full recompense for the pain and suffering you have had
over the years, but it is a sincere attempt to make up for what you have
lost," he wrote in his letter.
"I hope this will help you pay for things and get on with your life. I
think it's very important to try to bring the sad and sorry situation to
closure."
The order sought advice from former High Court judge, Sir Rodney Gallen, and
KPMG Legal before making the offers.
It said it had had to borrow money so that it could pay the men.
One man, Justin Richardson, who received more than $100,000 in compensation
last time, has admitted he made false claims. He pleaded guilty to two charges
of making false statements and was told by the judge last month that jail was
inevitable.
Former
Police are investigating another four Sydney-based brothers and a former
brother, also in