The Salvation Army lied about their mistakes ...

NEWS.com.au
April 8, 2014

http://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/the-salvation-army-lied-about-their-mistakes-to-two-women-raped-by-a-paedophile-royal-commission-told/story-fnii5s3x-1226877814468

The Salvation Army Commissioner James Condon, was called to give evidence at the Royal Commission in Sydney.

THE Salvation Army was lying about their mistakes up to five years ago to two women raped and sexually abused by a paedophile at a Sunday school, the child sex abuse royal commission has been told.

The evidence emerged as the Salvos eastern territorial commander, James Condon, clashed with counsel assisting the commission in a heated exchange.

The women had wanted to know why nothing was done when they first reported John Lane, who taught at the Fortitude Valley corps in Brisbane, in 1992 to Colonel Stan Everitt, then the Salvos commander for that region.

The women, one of whom was only four when she was abused by Lane, went to police in 1996 and Lane was convicted and jailed. He has since died.

In 2006, the women approached the Salvation Army to make a claim for compensation and seeking an apology for the abuse and an apology from Everitt for not being believed.

One of them was sent a letter in 2009 from the army which said: “I want you to know that it has been decided not to contact Lieutenant Colonel Everitt as he is an elderly retired officer now and at the time of your abuse there were no clear guidelines for him to follow.”

But counsel assisting the commission, Simeon Beckett, put it to Commissioner Condon that as far back as 1991, the Salvation Army had clear policies that required instant dismissal for rape and for the police to be notified.

Commissioner Condon said that the problem was that Everitt had not believed the girls, so therefore he did not go to the police.

“But given the officer’s regulations that I have taken you to, there were in fact some clear guidelines for him to follow, weren’t there?” Mr Beckett said.

Condon: “If I can just comment about that?”

Beckett: “Is that a yes or no?”

Condon: “I haven’t answered it yet. I’m commenting and then I will give you an answer.”

He went on to say that knowing the officer who wrote that 2009 letter, he was comparing what rules there were today to what there was in 1992 when he said “there were no clear guidelines.”

Beckett: “But he doesn’t say that, does he?

Condon: “Well, you’re reading things in there that may not be in it, and so am I.”

Beckett: “It says ‘no clear guidelines for him to follow’. That seems pretty plain in the face of that, doesn’t it?”

Condon: “Yes, but it’s open to interpretation.”

He said he had tried to talk to Lieutenant Colonel Everitt this week but was told he was on holidays.

The hearing in Sydney continues.