Perth child abuse inquiry told about the horrors of sexual abuse, Collie Mail (April 28, 2014)

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse has opened in Perth and witnesses have been recounting their stories into horrific abuse.

Counsel assisting the commission Gail Furness told the hearing at the Western Australian Industrial Commission that in the next two weeks 11 men would talk about their experiences.

The evidence relates to residents at Casteldare Junior Orphanage, St Vincent's Orphanage Clontarf, St Joseph's Farm school in Bindoon and St Mary's Agricultural School at Tardun.

The abuse is alleged to have occurred between 1947 and 1968 on boys as young as seven years old who were sent to Australia as child migrants.

Ms Furness described the abuse of one witness, a former Castledare and Tardun resident known to the Commission simply as VG.

She said the witness would give evidence about being hospitalised after being raped.

"Upon his return he was beaten with a leather strap."

Ms Furness told the hearing that acting director of the Western Australian Department for Child Protection and Family Support Emma White would testify the department no longer employed anyone who was employed during the period in question.

Ms Furness also told the hearing that, while the Christian Brothers were running the institutions, the "ultimate responsibility" for children's welfare laid with the WA government.

Peter Bent, a former resident at Casteldair, was one of a number of middle-aged and elderly men gathered outside the Industrial Relations Commission building on Monday morning.

He said he was there to support his friends who experienced sexual abuse at WA institutions.

Mr Bent said he wanted the public to know that the commission was "a good thing".

"To put on record how things went wrong in child care," he said.

Mr Bent, who was six when he was sent to Australia as an orphaned child migrant, said he had put in a submission to the commission about the physical abuse he suffered and other abuse he had witnessed.

John Hennesey, a former resident of Bindoon Farm School was one of the first to give evidence to the hearing.

He said, while he was excited by the "adventure" of going to Australia, he soon realised it would not be what he expected after his arrival in Fremantle by boat.

Mr Hennessey said he had been told he would ride kangaroos and there would be plenty of food, but this was not the reality.

He broke down as he described what it was like at Bindoon Farm School, where he was a resident in 1947 as a child.

He said he was born out of wedlock and sent to Australia "illegally" after his mother was told he had died.

Mr Hennessey recalled arriving with other boys in what he described like a "cattle truck" and being told by one of the brothers "welcome to Australia, we are looking for good white stock to populate Australia because we are worried and afraid of the Asian hordes".

He said that "welcome" haunted him, at times being referred to by the brothers as they sexually abused him and forced him to carry out sexual acts.

Mr Hennessey said he became a "pet" for one of the brothers who regularly made him masturbate himself and masturbate or perform oral sex on the brother.

He said he was also sexually abused by other brothers and other boys. Mr Hennessey described a "complex network of gangs at Bindoon".

He said he'd been "programmed to the most distorted and twisted pattern of social behaviour and that love was a dirty word at Bindoon."

He left Bindoon when he was 16 years old but said he had already lost his dignity and self respect.

Mr Hennessey said he'd lived a life of loneliness and had at times been suicidal.

He said the issue of sexuality was a "minefield" for him and his attitude towards the opposite sex had been "poisoned".

As a result of this, he said he had never had a committed relationship.

"I do regret I have no children of my own- no little Hennesseys running around."

Mr Hennessey said even after telling his story to the ABC in 1970, the first time he felt "believed", he was made to feel like a "leper" for speaking out about the church.

Mr Hennessey told the hearing that this was not the first time he had given evidence about what had happened.

He said while people sobbed in response each time he recalled what had happened at different inquiries, he was left "exhausted" and felt that there was no real justice.

He hoped giving evidence could make a difference in how claims of child sexual abuse were dealt with.

"If we save only one child from going through what we went through, it'll be worthwhile," he said.

Mr Hennessey said if his offenders believed in what they said they believed in "there will be a lot if vacant spaces in heaven".

Former Castledaire and Clontarf resident Bert McGregor told the hearing that when he became a part of the Christian Brothers Order as an adult he was surprised to realise that sexual abuse of children was widespread and that his abuse was not unique.

He said this prompted him to carry out a survey into sexual abuse at the two institutions.

Instead of his superiors in the Christian Brothers Order taking action, Mr McGregor was told that the "so-called peadophiles" had to be protected by "their lying accusers".