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Accusations of Abuse in
Institutions
Index: Home Page Peter Ellis
Index: Accusations in Institutions
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2004-0316 - The Press - Reappointed
Brother Peter Burke, the Australasian head of the St John of God Order, has
been re-elected for another three-year term. He is best known in
2004-0312 - The Press - Abuse
complaints
A new Catholic Church office to oversee abuse complaints will be set up within
the next few months. Catholic bishops and leaders of religious orders agreed
last year that a body was needed to evaluate and supervise complaints
procedures. Sexual-abuse complaints will still be dealt with by
professional-standards committees in the country's six diocese and by those
operated by religious orders
2004-0310 - Dominion Post -
Catholics and the past
Letter to the Editor by Brian Harmer - Jim Scott (Letters, March 6) suggests
that abuse within the Catholic Church should disbar it from speaking out on
Treaty issues… The abusers referred to by Mr Scott do not characterise the
whole church. Grave crimes such as these must of course be deplored, and the
guilty brought to justice. That does not mean that the rest of the church,
including its bishops, are absolved from their obligation to speak out against
injustice
2004-0307 - Sunday Star Times - Mel's
SM-BD porn
Letter to the Editor by Denis Hall - The more cynical among us, some Marist old
boys, see a connection between all this and the huge problem of homosexual
abuse, perpetrated by priests, now being exposed in the Catholic Church. I
would characterise it as, dare I say it, "religious porn".
2004-0305 - Dominion Post - A
dollar each way
Letter to the Editor by
2004-0228 - NZ Herald - Bishop
disputes liability for sex abuse
by Eugene Bingham - The Catholic Bishop of
2004-0228 - Newstalk ZB -
Bishop's comments defended
2004-0227 - The Press - 'Abuse
complaint met with severe thrashing'
by Jarrod Booker - A boy at a Christchurch St John of God school had to be
dragged kicking and screaming back to school after holiday breaks, his mother
told a court yesterday. The mother was giving evidence at a Christchurch
District Court depositions hearing into charges against a former brother at the
2004-0227 - The Press - Boy had to be
dragged back to school, court told
A boy at a Christchurch St John of God school had to be dragged kicking and
screaming back to school after holiday breaks, his mother told a court
yesterday. The mother was giving evidence at a Christchurch District Court
depositions hearing into charges against a former brother at the
2004-0226 - The Press - Paid-out
ex-pupil denies sexual abuse
An Australian religious order paid a disabled former pupil tens of thousands of
dollars compensation for alleged mistreatment at its
2004-0225 - The Press - Helpers saw no
offending
Helpers at a Christchurch school where alleged sexual offending took place
against pupils say they saw no evidence of misconduct. Dorothy O'Connor worked
from 1971 to 1977 at the St John of God Marylands School during which Brother
Bernard Kevin McGrath, 56, was alleged to have sexually abused 18 boys under
the age of 16. O'Connor, who was giving evidence yesterday at a depositions
hearing in the Christchurch District Court via a video link from Melbourne,
said she would sometimes talk to the pupils at the school but got no indication
of any sexual or physical abuse having taken place
2004-0225 - The Press - No sex offence
evidence, say St John of God helpers
Helpers at a Christchurch school where alleged sexual offending took place
against pupils say they saw no evidence of misconduct. Dorothy O'Connor worked
from 1971 to 1977 at the St John of God Marylands School during which Brother
Bernard Kevin McGrath, 56, was alleged to have sexually abused 18 boys under age
16.
2004-0223 - Newstalk ZB -
More abuse cases come for
Number of people claiming sexual, phsyical or mental abuse in children's
institutions has tripled in a month. The number of former children's institution
inmates claiming they were sexually, physically and mentally abused has tripled
in a little over a month. Sonja Cooper first raised the issue in public on
behalf of around 40 people who claim they were abused in the 50s and 60s in
state-owned children's homes
2004-0219 - Otago Daily
Times - Former Campbell Park pupil dismissive of allegations
A growing number of former Campbell Park School pupils are coming forward with
stories of the abuse they suffered there.
2004-0219 - NZ Herald - Ex-pupils
tell of abuses
A growing number of former
2004-0218 - NZ Herald - Woman's
case against Church heads to High C
The case of a Christchurch woman suing the Catholic Church over its handling of
a complaint against a priest will go to the High Court next month. Bonnie
Quilter, a Shirley invalid beneficiary, is seeking exemplary damages and an
inquiry into the Church's abuse complaints procedures. She is one of four women
who laid complaints of sexual misconduct against former Lyttelton priest Father
Jim Consedine.
2004-0217 - The Press - Court date
for abuse complaint against priest
The case of a
2004-0217 - Otago Daily Times -
Case against church next month
NZPA - The case of a
2004-0216 - The Press - Counselling
Letter to the Editor by Phillip Rex Robinson - David Dawe (February 3) asks when
the cult of counselling began. During the 1980s ACC decided to pay lump sum
compensation to people claiming sexual abuse. The Privacy Act means no rigorous
proof or criminal prosecution is required, the psychoanalysis of a counsellor
being deemed sufficient to establish entitlement. Like non-judgmental priests
and doctors, counsellors must give a value-free service, so expecting
counsellors to identify possible fraudsters is unrealistic. Not only is it
against their own financial interests, but also their professional ethics.
2004-0213 - The Press - Sisters of
Nazareth
Letter to the Editor by C J Popplewell - In reference to Yvonne Martin's
article (December 24), as with Peter Leeming and M. Wagteveld, I too was
appalled at this article, which was dramatic and unbalanced. As a former
resident of seven years, I received or witnessed no such physical abuse from
the Sisters of Nazareth. So, I decided to attend the mediation process to meet
face to face with the complainants, but much to my frustration only one decided
to front-up to the many people who had travelled from all parts of the country
in support of the Sisters of Nazareth.
2004-0206 - The Press - Ex-St
John of God man to face sex charge trial
A former St John of God brother has been committed to trial to face eight sex
charges after a District Court depositions hearing yesterday. Justices of the
Peace John O'Hara and Marie Fahey did not require the man, whose name is
suppressed, to appear for a High Court pre-trial hearing on March 5. He was
remanded on bail and allowed to travel back to his home in
2004-0206 - Otago Daily Times -
Former brother for trial on sex charges
A former St John of God brother has been committed for trial on eight sex abuse
charges after a depositions hearing in the Christchurch District Court
yesterday. Justices of the Peace John O'Hara and Marie Fahey said the man,
whose name is suppressed, was not required to appear for a High Court pre-trial
hearing on March 5. He was remanded on bail and allowed to travel back to his
home in
2004-0206 - NZ Herald - Former St John
of God brother faces eight sex abuse charges
A former St John of God brother has been committed for trial on eight sex abuse
charges. The man, whose name is suppressed, was remanded on bail and allowed to
return to
2004-0205 - One News - Catholic
brother to face trial
A former Catholic brother has been committed to stand trial for sexually
abusing young boys. The 64-year-old man, who lives in
2004-0205 - Dominion Post
- Woodcock in court
Former Catholic priest Alan Woodcock made a brief appearance in Upper Hutt
District Court yesterday facing charges relating to sexually abusing boys
2004-0129 - NZ Herald -
Extradition hearing for churchmen on sex abuse charges set
NZPA - A hearing opposing the extradition of three Catholic clergymen to New
Zealand to face child sex abuse charges will be heard in Sydney in May. A
three-day hearing has been set down in
2004-0126 - Dominion Post - 90
claimants now signed up over abuse
by Fran Tyler - The number of people who have signed up to a combined lawsuit
over alleged abuse in state-run children's homes has risen to about 90. Recent
publicity about the case in The Dominion Post resulted in about 45 more people
coming forward claiming they too suffered sexual, physical or emotional abuse
while in the homes in the 1950s, 60s and 70s. The claims had come from all over
2004-0122 - Stuff -
Accused priest gravely ill, says lawyer
NZPA - One of the Catholic clergymen facing child sex abuse charges in
2004-0121 - Wairarapa
Times Age - Former govt home residents say they were locked in attic
Past residents of the former government-run Fareham House in the Wairarapa town
of Featherston say they were locked in an attic for weeks on end or forced to
clean a hall floor with a toothbrush. Fareham House last week joined other
former Department of Social Welfare homes around
2004-0121 - One News -
Catholic brothers in Sydney court
A 56-year-old Catholic priest facing child sex charges laid in New Zealand was
terminally ill, and two co-accused Brothers were very ill, a Sydney court has
been told. St John of God priest Raymond Garchow and Brothers William Lebler,
82, and Rodger Maloney, 68, are facing a total of 61 sexual assault charges
against their former students, dating back almost 50 years.
2004-0121 - NZ Herald - Extradited
sex-charge priest granted bail
NZPA - A former Wellington Catholic priest extradited from
2004-0121 - Dominion Post -
Ex-priest bailed on child sex charges
NZPA - A former Catholic priest extradited from Britain on child sex charges
has been bailed in Upper Hutt District Court. Alan Woodcock, formerly of
2004-0120 - NZ Herald - Extradited
former priest remanded on bail New June 7 2004
A former Wellington Catholic priest extradited from
2004-0120 - Newstalk ZB -
Extradited former priest in court
New June 7 2004
A court appearance today for a former priest facing sexual assault charges. Alan
Woodcock was extradited from
2004-0120 - Newstalk ZB - Bail
granted for former priest New June 7 2004
Bail has been granted to a former priest accused of sexually assaulting young
boys. Alan John Woodcock is facing more than 30 charges, for allegedly
indecently assaulting 12 teenage boys while he was teaching at schools in Upper
Hutt and Palmerston North between 1982 and 1985
2004-0119 - Dominion Post -
Extradited priest back in NZ
by Kim Ruscoe - The former Wellington Catholic priest extradited from England
to face child-sex assault charges is back in New Zealand. Alan Woodcock is
being held in the
2004-0117 - One News - Woodcock back
to face charges
A former Catholic priest has arrived back in
2004-0117 - Otago Daily Times - A 'culture
of abuse'
Ms Cooper hoped to lodge legal proceedings in one of the
2004-0116 - Otago Daily Times - Plan to
sue over abuse of children
NZPA - Almost 50 former inmates of children's institutions plan to sue the
Government over accusations of abuse and claims of a cover-up. The group of about
45 were mostly inmates during the 1960s and 1970s of
2004-0116 - Newstalk ZB -
Abuse allegations in Govt institutions
45 former children's institute residents claim they suffered mental, physical
and sexual abuse while in Government's care. The Government could have to pay
out for alleged abuse in girls' and boys' homes around the
2004-0116 - Dominion Post -
Woodcock to return
A former Wellington Catholic priest being extradited from
2004-0116 - Dominion
Post - Violent upbringings away from home
By Fran Tyler - A group of about 45 men who say they suffered abuse in boys'
homes are planning legal action against the Crown. Fran Tyler spoke to some of
them about their experiences.
2004-0116 - Dominion Post -
Difficult kids were helped, says ex-head
by Fran Tyler - Thousands of New Zealand children have passed through welfare
homes, developed to provide a nurturing environment and education for troubled
children. The social worker manual of the 1960s describes one home as: "to
provide for the social re-education of delinquent boys from about 14 to 17
years, who are unsuitable for foster home placement". But over the years
various reports, and a number of people sent to homes, have highlighted abuse.
A Human Rights Commission inquiry into the treatment of children in social
welfare homes was held in 1980. The commission's report, published in 1982,
outlined brutal punishment of welfare home children. The commission made a
series of recommendations.
2004-0115 - The Press - Catholic
brothers to oppose extradition
by Yvonne Martin - Three Catholic brothers have indicated they will oppose
extradition from
2004-0115 - One News - Accused likely
to fight extradition
Police in Christchurch say three brothers from the Catholic order, St John of
God, who are accused of sex abuse have indicated they will oppose extradition
from Australia to face the charges. Police have laid 47 charges against the
men, aged 56, 67 and 81, following investigations over complaints by former
pupils at the order's Marylands Residential School in Christchurch
2004-0115 - Otago Daily Times -
Abuse at Sedgley spanned 40 years
NZPA - New information has shown sexual offending at the former Sedgley Boys
Home in Masterton spanned four decades, more than two perpetrators and multiple
victims, the inquiry set up to investigate the offending has discovered.
Previously, the sexual offending was thought to be confined to one period and
one offender in the 1960s. Now, Sedgley inquiry spokeswoman Lisa Rossiter has
said the offending was not isolated and happened at times between the 1940s and
1970s. "Unfortunately, there is more than one victim and more than one
perpetrator.
2004-0115 - NZ Herald - Former
priest expected back in next few days to face charges
NZPA - A former Wellington Catholic priest being extradited from
2004-0113 - The Press - Man guilty of
false claim against priests
by John Henzell - A Christchurch man who lied about being repeatedly molested
by paedophile priests at a St John of God school has been told he had made life
even more difficult for genuine victims. John Kevin Fenn, 39, a sickness
beneficiary with intellectual disabilities, claimed that he had been repeatedly
molested during eight years at the Halswell school in the 1970s. But when
detectives uncovered inconsistencies in his story, Fenn admitted he had not
been molested and had made up the abuse claim in a bid to get compensation from
the order. Fenn pleaded guilty in the Christchurch District Court to a charge
of making a false statement to police