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BOYS as young as 10 were sexually abused in Adelaide when, as wards of the state, they were taken out of their institution on weekends and handed over to an organised pedophile ring. More than 500 abuse claims have been heard in the first six months of a South Australian inquiry that spans 34 orphanages or detention centres where wards claim they were sexually abused over the past 50 years. The inquiry's interim report, released yesterday, also listed allegations of gang rapes, child-on-child abuse, and street kids selling sex in public parks. "The picture is painted of young girls and boys who were frightened, unable to protect themselves and make disclosure and who were abandoned by their carers," says the report by Ted Mullighan, the commissioner of the inquiry into the sex abuse of state wards. The report finds that young boys from St Joseph's Catholic Orphanage and Brookway Park Boys Reformatory were sexually abused at the homes of adults who had permission to take boys on day outings or to stay away at weekends, the report says. "It is alleged that state children were taken to other private homes and required to associate with groups of men who sexually abused them", during the 1960s, the report continues. Among these boys was "Ron" - not his real name - who is today the lead plaintiff in a class action by former state wards against the state Government alleging breach of duty of care. Ron, 43, said he spent four hours telling his story to the inquiry, but after reading the interim report even he was surprised at the extent of sexual abuse. "I knew something was going on in this state but I'm absolutely disgusted at how big the problem is," Ron said. The statements of 21 former state wards have been forwarded to police for further investigation. It's understood a group of 10 others were considering giving permission for police to investigate their claims. Mr Mullighan declined to give details of the complaints, which police are now investigating. Women made up 54per cent of the total of more than 500 complainants. Handing down his damning findings, Mr Mullighan said sex abuse of state wards remained "a significant problem". "I know it's still going on," Mr Mullighan said. He said from the 1970s state wards were gradually moved from large government and religious institutions into the care of foster parents, some of whom were also abusers. The inquiry had begun examining 85 claims of sexual abuse in foster care. Mr Mullighan, a retired South Australian Supreme Court judge, agreed that his commission of inquiry was more than 20 years overdue. "It's important that the public knows that there is a significant problem," he said. Mr Mullighan clearly doubts if any institution will emerge from the inquiry free of abuse allegations. "Until the completion of the inquiry I am unable to reach any conclusions as to whether there were homes and institutions at which sexual abuse did not occur," the report says. The inquiry has no end date but Mr Mullighan said he would need until June 2006. The Australian (24-5-2005) Jeremy Roberts |
Australian News
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