Salvation Army Promoted Despite a Known History of Child Sex Abuse Commission Told
By Janet Fife-Yeomans
HE had a history of sexually assaulting little girls but Colin Haggar was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Salvation Army, the child sex abuse royal commission has been told today. The Salvos knew as long ago as 1989 what Mr Haggar had done and dismissed him from their ranks but readmitted him in 1993. He got to know the first girl he sexually assaulted because her mum worked at the local Salvation Army’s op-shop in a central western NSW town. The girl told her parents what he had done and Mr Haggar met with them. They were shocked when he told them: “It wasn’t that serious. I only fingered her.” He has admitted his abuse to the Salvation Army and at one stage even went to the police, accompanied by another Salvation Army officer, Commander James Condon, the current Territorial head. “Summons issued by the royal commission reveal that no charges were laid and no COPS or similar entry recorded of the visit,” counsel assisting the commission, Simeon Beckett, said today. The commission has begun its second hearing into the Salvation Army and will concentrate on the way the Salvos handled claims of sex abuse by Mr Haggar and another officer, John Lane, who taught at the Salvation Army’s Fortitude Valley corps in Brisbane in the 1970s. While some of the officers alleged to have engaged in criminal behaviour died before claims were made against them, others have retired but still hold rank within the Salvation Army and remain entitled to wear their uniform, the commission was told. Mr Beckett said that when a new policy for the management of sex offenders was introduced by the Salvation Army in 2007, they sought legal advice about the then Lt Col Haggar. “The legal advice was that (Haggar) continuing as an officer was likely to expose the Salvation Army to considerable risk of vicarious liability should there be a subsequent sexual offence,” Mr Beckett said. But psychiatrist Dr Bruce Westmore said that “on (Haggar’s) account of the facts he was a very low risk to children”. Major Peter Farthing wrote to let Mr Haggar know he could continue as an officer and said: “May we say we are delighted with this outcome.” In April last year, the territorial commander sent out a general request for all allegations of child sex abuse be provided to the Professional Standards Office in preparation for the royal commission. “The evidence will reveal that a number of officers and corps members came forward and made allegations against Colin Haggar,” Mr Beckett said. They included allegations about his conduct at Samaritan House, a shelter for women and children. He was demoted to major and required to retire. The hearing involving the Salvation Army has been adjourned to tomorrow. Cardinal George Pell will continue giving evidence this afternoon.
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