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The Press
November 19, 2003

Payouts mixed blessing for order's victims
by Yvonne Martin

The historic Baptist Church in Oxford Terrace, with its towering columns and river views, was once the nearest thing Garry Savage could call home.

After a night roaming inner-city streets -- drinking, gluesniffing, and being moved on by the police -- he could always crash out in a sleeping bag at the church's grand entrance.

But the 32-year-old invalid beneficiary and father, nicknamed Speedy, has had a surprise change of fortunes.

Mr Savage was among 56 men paid out a total of more than $4 million by the St John of God Order this year for sexual abuse suffered as boys at its Catholic residential school, Marylands.

Mr Savage had been sent to Marylands as a 10-year-old with learning difficulties. He said he was regularly abused by one religious brother and would often run away, only to be physically punished on his return. He was awarded $115,000.

To a man who started gluesniffing at 14 and has slept on the streets since leaving school at 17, the windfall was like becoming an overnight millionaire.

Mr Savage, the homeless street walker, suddenly became Mr Savage, property owner and landlord.

In April his mother, Marilyn Savage, persuaded him to invest most of his money in a modest one-bedroomed house in North New Brighton. He paid $96,000 cash and the house is owned under a family trust.

"It's great having a house, because I can't get kicked out," Mr Savage said. "I have had flats and bedsits, but I always get kicked out for sniffing and drinking and turning up the radio full blast and wild parties."

Mr Savage spent another $150 on a fishing rod to use at New Brighton pier and $150 on a bike, later stolen in town.

The rest, $19,000, is being held by a lawyer for safekeeping, to cover rates, insurance, and other expenses. Otherwise, Mr Savage -- who has a nine-year-old son in State care -- said he would have squandered the lot on booze and solvents.

But other former Marylands men have not fared so well.

Ken Clearwater, who manages the Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse Trust, knows several men who have blown their payouts. "They got $30,000 to $95,000 and have nothing to show for it," he said.

"They have spent the money on whatever their addictions are, whether it's drugs, alcohol, or cars. Because they haven't dealt with their addictions, it's automatically going to go there."

Mr Clearwater said some men saw the payouts as "blood money" to purge and needed help coming to terms with sudden wealth.

"It's sad because they have never had money to deal with before."

If the payouts were locked into trusts, then the men could have obtained money when they most needed it, he said.

The St John of God Order said the "pastoral offers" were part of ongoing assistance to the men.

Brother Peter Burke, the Australasian head of the Order, said each person was made aware of the pitfalls associated with a windfall. Trustees were arranged where they were obviously needed.

Another 17 men have just had financial offers made to them.

While Mr Savage appreciates a roof over his head on wet, windy nights, adjusting to a fixed abode has been difficult.

"It gave me a bit of a fright. It took me a month to get used to a proper bed," said Mr Savage, who slept on the couch at first.

He has refused offers of joining rehabilitation programmes for fear of having to live in an institution, even temporarily. "I don't like being locked up," he said.

Neither can he resist the pull of Christchurch nightlife. "I sit outside the nightclubs. I know all the bouncers. I get wasted and I start dancing outside. I love dancing."

Inevitably, beat cops confiscate his spray cans and bottles, and move him along.

Gradually, Mr Savage is taking the hint and heading home after weekends out.

"I am getting used to lazing about at home, watching television."