Child Sex Abuse Royal Commission: Victims Care More about Justice Than Money, Catholic Church Commissioner Says
ABC News
A commissioner of the Catholic Church's Melbourne Response has told the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse that victims told him they wanted justice, not money. Jeffery Gleeson QC, who investigates complaints of abuse under Commissioner Peter O'Callaghan QC, told the inquiry that victims just wanted to be believed. "Complainants have told me, it's not about the money, and I believe them," Mr Gleeson said. "I don't think it's about the money. It's about being believed that that person, that priest, that brother, that nun abused them. "I don't speak for victims. But my sense for having spoken to them for so many years is that they need to know that there has been a factual finding. "Being believed and naming offenders seems important to victims." Mr Gleeson said there was usually some confusion from victims as to his role, and the fact he was not representing them. He said he always offered them a lawyer, but it was not often deemed necessary if he was upholding their complaint. He said while it was up to the victim to go to police, he urged them to do so. But he criticised Victoria Police's approach to the Melbourne Response. Mr Gleeson said he had learnt little from the Victorian parliamentary inquiry into child abuse, including from the evidence given by Victoria Police that was critical of the Catholic Church's handling of abuse claims. "There was a submission made to the Victorian parliamentary inquiry by [Victoria Police] Assistant Commissioner [Graeme] Ashton that raised matters that seemed to me to fundamentally misunderstand the way the independent commissioners operated," he said. "I considered and reviewed the way that the parliamentary inquiry dealt with that and didn't accept that evidence." Court traumatic for victims: Commissioner Mr Gleeson was also asked about whether it was intimidating for victims to relay their claims at his barrister chambers. He responded that it was no different to any office, and the prospect of visiting complainants at their own home was inappropriate. "Within a few minutes of discussions it all becomes about the human beings in the room and I try during those early minutes to talk about the footy or talk about some small talk so they are put at ease," Mr Gleeson said. "I sit at the table, they sit at the table. "If we were to go to a different type of office it would be a table and chair." Mr Gleeson said going to court could be traumatic for victims. "A contested hearing, it is unattractive in many aspects because complainants are cross-examined, it has a degree of formality, they would be very nervous and apprehensive," he said. The man in charge of the Melbourne Response's compensation scheme since 2004, David Curtain QC, has echoed Mr Gleeson's view about money not being the motivating factor for most victims. Mr Curtain said payments were a financial recognition of harm being done, but in many cases, would never be enough for the harm done. "As someone who has practised in that area for well over 30 years, I know that whatever people who are injured get is not enough," Mr Curtain said. "It's pointless to offer a ventilated quadriplegic $10 million in damages. "My role is to help victims as much as I can." Compensation scheme boss refuses to discuss cap on money Mr Curtain said he should not be made to discuss a cap on money paid because he was still dealing with victims. Mr Curtain was part of a push in 2008 to lift the compensation cap from $50,000 to $75,000. He testified that he would tell victims that the compensation amount was not intended to be full compensation but was a financial recognition of the harm that has been done. When asked his thoughts on the current cap of $75,000, he told Justice Peter McLellan that he did not think he should express a view because he was still working with victims. The royal commission has heard that $17 million has been paid by the Archdiocese of Melbourne since its compensation scheme was started by then Archbishop George Pell in 1996. The commission has been told the average payout was just over $36,000. The hearing continues.
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