Toronto Star
December 16, 2009
http://www.thestar.com/news/ontario/article/739411--huge-inquiry-fails-to-find-pedophile-ring-in-cornwall
Canada -- There were 34 victims in a Cornwall child-molestation scandal, but even after a four-year, $53 million public inquiry no one knows if an organized pedophile ring was operating in Eastern Ontario.
Commissioner G. Normand Glaude released his 2,396-page report Tuesday, exposing "a combination of systemic failures, insensitivity to complaints, (and a) reluctance to act" on the part of church, school, children's aid, police and justice officials.
That fuelled "speculation" – stoked by the media, and politicians making "inaccurate" statements – of a child molesters' ring at large in the area for years.
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| Attorney General Chris Bentley, left, and Public Safety Minister Rick Bartolucci speak to the media Dec. 15, 2009. |
"I heard evidence that suggested that there were cases of joint abuse, passing of alleged victims and possibly passive knowledge of abuse. I am not making a pronouncement on whether a ring existed or not," Glaude wrote in his report.
The probe – the most expensive public inquiry in Ontario history –has been plagued by delays, including the refusal of the officer whose allegations sparked the inquiry to testify. Some witnesses who had talked to the officer recanted their testimony on the inquiry stand, including a witness who said he fabricated an allegation of ritual abuse of boys by a clan of robe-clad men at a cottage.
The Ontario government established the inquiry in April 2005 and it began hearing from witnesses in February 2006.
In his report, Glaude makes 234 recommendations to various government ministries, Cornwall police, Ontario Provincial Police, the local children's aid society, Catholic Church diocese, and area school boards.
Glaude urged the provincial government to put $5 million into "healing and reconciliation" services in the Cornwall area over the next five years, along with initiatives to train staff at institutions to better handle abuse allegations.
Attorney General Chris Bentley apologized to the child-abuse victims and promised there will be "additional money" to help the men, who range in age from their 30s to their 60s.
The attorney general conceding, "it's hard to imagine a more thorough examination," noted that future public inquiries would be more focused and reach conclusions more quickly and cheaply.
"It is a lot of money," he said of the $53 million, but insisted the inquiry was therapeutic for the Cornwall community. "It may or may not have reached the conclusions that people were looking for."
In his review, Glaude was critical of former Ottawa-area Tory MPP Garry Guzzo, a judge who championed the theory that there was a pedophile ring operating in Cornwall.
"It appears he overstated his knowledge of the facts," he wrote.
In 2004, McGuinty thanked Guzzo, who had stood up to his own party after the OPP concluded in 2001 there was no evidence of organized pedophilia.
While police laid 115 charges against 15 suspects based on allegations of sexual abuse by 34 people, only one person was ever convicted.
Glaude had harsh words for former Cornwall police officer Perry Dunlop for conducting "an off-duty and unauthorized investigation that suffered from many deficiencies," including poor note-taking and "undue" influence of victims.
It was Dunlop's allegations of an active pedophile ring that sparked the investigation. Project Truth, the OPP's four-year probe, relied too much on Dunlop's conspiracy "theory," Glaude concluded.
Glaude derided handyman Ron Leroux, who made allegations of ritual abuse, as a "highly suggestible individual." Leroux later recanted his allegations.
CORNWALL REPORT LATEST CHAPTER IN AGONIZING SAGA
A chronology of key events leading up to the Cornwall Public Inquiry:
1992: A 35-year-old former altar boy alleges he was sexually abused by probation officer Ken Seguin and Rev. Charles MacDonald when he was younger.
1993: The man reaches a settlement with the diocese for $32,000 and doesn't pursue charges against either man. Seguin commits suicide.
September 1993: Police officer Perry Dunlop (inset right) picks up the case; more people come forward to him with allegations of sexual abuse spanning decades. He becomes convinced it was the work of high-profile local officials operating a clandestine pedophile ring.
1996: MacDonald charged with sexually abusing young people. Additional charges laid in 1998. But charges are stayed in 2002 after judge rules his right to a trial within a reasonable amount of time was violated.
1997: Provincial police launch Project Truth investigation and eventually lay 115 charges against 15 people, but find no evidence of a pedophile ring. The investigation lasts until 2001. One person is convicted.
April 2005: Ontario government establishes Cornwall Public Inquiry, with a mandate to probe the responses of the justice system and public institutions to allegations of sexual abuse.
February 2006: Inquiry begins hearing from witnesses.
June 28, 2007: Ron Leroux tells inquiry he fabricated tale of clan of pedophiles who wore robes, burned candles and sexually abused young boys during weekend meetings in the 1950s and early 1960s.
November 2007: Perry Dunlop convicted of civil contempt of court for refusing to give evidence at inquiry.
Feb. 17, 2008: Dunlop arrested for again failing to show up at inquiry. He is sentenced in March to six months in jail.
Sept. 3, 2008: Dunlop sentenced to additional 30 days in jail for criminal contempt of court for refusing judge's order to appear at inquiry. He is freed from jail one month later.
Oct. 23, 2008: Ontario government steps in to set end date for inquiry. All evidence ordered heard by Jan. 31, 2009; report ordered due by July 31.
Feb. 23-27, 2009: Inquiry ends with closing submissions after four years and some 180 witnesses.
July 31, 2009: First report deadline passes, inquiry granted extension.
Oct. 15, 2009: Second report deadline passes, inquiry granted second extension.
Dec. 15, 2009: Commissioner G. Normand Glaude (right) issues his report.
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