Mediation Begins between Catholic Church and St Ann’s Sex Abuse Victims Seeking Compensation

By Ben Hyde
The Courier-Mail
June 19, 2014

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/national/mediation-begins-between-catholic-church-and-st-anns-sex-abuse-victims-seeking-compensation/story-fnii5yv5-1226960090032

St Anns Special School bus driver Brian Perkins covers face with cardboard after being extradited back to South Australia. Picture: Michael Milnes

OUT-OF-COURT negotiations have begun to settle compensation claims over the St Ann’s Special School sexual abuse case.

A father of one of the abuse victims, Peter Mitchell, said this morning that the Catholic Church had entered talks with the victims’ families who are seeking compensation.

“We’re grateful to Archbishop (Philip) Wilson that we’re entering mediation to settle our claims,” he said.

“But we can’t provide any further comment as we don’t want to jeopardise the mediation process.”

The mediation could end 12 years of legal battles over paedophile Brian Perkins’ molestation of 36 students at St Ann’s Special School more than 20 years ago.

Between 1987 and 1991, Perkins videotaped, photographed and sexually assaulted 36 students at the Marion school, where he worked as a volunteer bus driver. He fled interstate and was not arrested for his crimes until 2002.

He was jailed a year later and has since died in custody.

Victims of the abuse have been waging a long battle for compensation since, on the grounds that the school and church failed to protect them from Perkins’ crimes.

Brian Perkins is extradited back to SA in police custody. Picture: Michael Milnes

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse heard evidence on the abuse when it sat in Adelaide in March.

Earlier this year, Mr Mitchell launched on online petition on change.org calling on the Catholic Church to settle the compensation claims.

The petition has since attracted more than 104,000 signatures.

A Catholic Archdiocese spokeswoman said she could not specifically comment on any mediation claims, citing legalities.

“Archbishop Philip Wilson has, from the outset, acknowledged the victims’ rights to seek compensation through the civil courts and he has also demonstrated his willingness to explore avenues for resolution outside the traditional court process,” she said.

“It would be inappropriate to comment on any specific case.”