Dying abuse victim celebrates giving bedside testimony to Royal Commission

By Alyssa Allen
ABC News
April 16, 2014

http://www.abc.net.au/local/audio/2014/04/15/3986141.htm?site=ballarat

Barry Wilson was abused whilst in the care of the Christian Brothers at St Augustine's Orphanage in Highton, Geelong.

Barry Wilson waited fifty years to tell his horrific story of child sexual abuse. It was years of abuse while in the care of the Christian Brothers at St Augustine's Orphanage in Highton, Geelong that saw Barry's life spiral out of control. Barry found out six weeks ago that he had liver cancer and only had a few days to live. Amazingly, he found the courage to tell his story of child sexual abuse to the Royal Commission last Tuesday.

Barry died on Sunday but his brother Peter Wilson could not be more proud of him.

Peter says members of the SANO Task Force (Victoria Police sex-crimes squad) took a recorded statement from Barry's bedside in Kerang hospital in Northern Victoria.

"The detectives were very gentle with Barry, allowing him time to have breaks, so he could get his breath, that took probably an hour or a half or so, they were passionate."

Peter, also a victim of child sexual abuse at the hands of the Christian Brothers, was asked by his brother stay in the room for his statement.

But Peter says he didn't stay due to his own ongoing investigation with the Royal Commission.

"I didn't want to hear them, as much as I wanted to hear them, I knew that later on this year I'm going before the Royal Commission myself, we don't need stories to be conflicting."

Peter says it meant everything to Barry to be able to share his story before he died.

"Barry knew that when he died, everything died with him, he would never have the chance to be heard in court or his story couldn't be told to the Royal Commission."

"Barry didn't want anyone to know but he had the courage to say 'Ok I want to tell my story, because if I go to my grave at least I know I'm dying a happy man', so that's why we organised it."

Once Barry gave his statement, he celebrated with a fist pump.

Fifty years of keeping a dark secret to himself was finally set free.

"I went in with my wife and Barry closed his fist and put them up in the air, he goes 'I done it.'"

"We gave him a hug and congratulated him."

Peter says he is grateful for the work of Leonie Sheedy, Chief Executive Officer of Care Leavers Australia Network for organising Barry's Royal Commission visit.

"She worked miracles that lady, she made it so much easier for me and Barry."

Peter says there is no need for victims of child sexual abuse to carry their trauma alone.

"Eventually it will bring you down, it will affect your family life, it could cost you your marriage."

"These people from the Royal commission and the SANO taskforce,they're very sensitive, they understand, they will not pressure you, they will help you and guide you and give you all the support that you would need so you could get through without having any major problems or breakdowns over it."