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The Press
May 14 2004
Father seeks apology over sexual abuse allegations
A Christchurch
father whose family was torn apart by sexual abuse allegations from a
controversial health worker still hopes for an admission he was wronged.
Trevor Gibling says he lost custody of his daughter Carolynne after being
accused of sexually abusing her by the female health officer.
The doctor examined and interviewed the girl at Christchurch's Glenelg Health Camp in 1987.
ACT MP Deborah Coddington, in Parliament this week, claimed the doctor
herself had "repeatedly examined these little girls in a way that can
only be described as sexual abuse".
As a result of allegations the doctor made against parents, three girls –
including Carolynne Gibling – were taken from their homes and put into state
custody.
Coddington is now calling for an inquiry into the "dreadful
scandal".
Gibling claimed his daughter, now aged 25, was manipulated into telling the
doctor and others what they wanted to hear.
"The difficulty we have in these cases is that the child can never win.
Carolynne always said that nothing happened but they wouldn't believe
her," Gibling said.
"If the child keeps on denying it and saying 'no, it didn't happen',
they say the child is in denial."
Police never charged Gibling.
Carolynne Gibling eventually returned to the custody of her mother, who had
separated from Trevor Gibling. But Carolynne later spent time living on the
streets.
"The psychological effect on my daughter has been something horrendous .
. .
"I want some acknowledgement from the system that they got it
wrong," Trevor Gibling said.
Coddington said successive governments had "swept this scandal under the
carpet".
Acting Health Minister Ruth Dyson told The Press it was too early to even
consider an inquiry.
She was still seeking more information from police and the Ministry of Health
over who had been investigated for what in relation to the Glenelg camp.
"There is no intention of hiding anything or not ensuring that people
are satisfied at the extent of the inquiries undertaken," Dyson said.
Ministry of Health notes to the minister, tabled in Parliament yesterday,
said the ministry had received complaints in 1993 and 1995 about the camp.
The complaints alleged "inappropriate medical examination of children,
inappropriate management of a child with asthma, and inappropriate management
of disclosures of abuse by the camp and Department of Social Welfare
staff".
Dyson told Parliament an inquiry was not ordered for the same reason the then
minister of health had not done so in 1993 and 1995.
"There was insufficient evidence to warrant an independent ministerial
inquiry."
Dyson invited Coddington to present her with any new information she might
have.
The doctor, who is not currently registered to practice in New Zealand,
could not be reached by The Press for comment.
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