Anglican Church offers compensation to NSW victims of abuse at children's home in Lismore

By Lucy Mcnally
ABC News
February 17, 2014

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-02-17/anglican-church-offers-compensation-to-nsw-victims-of-abuse-at-/5265430

The Anglican Church says it is trying to make amends to around 45 abuse victims by offering some of them up to $75,000 each in compensation.

Last year the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse looked at the North Coast Children's Home in Lismore.

Run by the Anglican Church, it was a place of brutal physical and sexual abuse between the 1940s and the 1980s.

The Commission examined the way the church dealt with a group of victims who launched a class action back in 2008.

It heard the Grafton diocese was dismissive and prioritised money over victims.

The administrator of the Grafton diocese Greg Ezzy has acknowledged the victims were mistreated.

"We are very sorry for what took place at that time," he said.

Archdeacon Ezzy says it is the right thing to do.

"We do appreciate that that wasn't handled according to our protocols and it is sad that people have endured further pain as a result of that and certainly we are very sorry for what took place at that time."

The church has offered up to 10 survivors its maximum compensation package of $75,000.

26 people have accepted lower payments, while another four are still negotiating.

Victim Tommy Campion says the church could be paying more, considering the fact that many victims are so traumatised they have not been able to hold down a job.

"They're hoping that this will go clean and swift and that everyone will agree whatever they say, but they are not," he said.

"I know some people and I have helped some people to fire back at them."

The church says it is having trouble tracking down some of the victims, despite an advertising campaign in the national newspapers.

Mr Campion says they need to try harder.

"They don't know where they are - they should go out and find them!" he said.

"You know, a national campaign, how many times have the done it? Once? They should be singing it from the rafters. Go and find them!"

The Anglican Church says it is fulfilling a commitment it made to the Royal Commission.