Claims Sex Offender Donald Bruce Henderson Abused Darwin Children at Swimming Spots for Years

By Xavier La Canna
ABC News
September 25, 2014

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-25/claims-sex-offender-henderson-abused-darwin-children-for-years/5769464

PHOTO: Donald Bruce Henderson worked as a house parent at the Retta Dixon home in the Northern Territory. (Supplied)

Convicted child sex offender Donald Bruce Henderson allegedly molested numerous children in swimming spots across Darwin and was seen acting suspiciously as late as 1992, a royal commission in Darwin has heard.

Despite numerous allegations, spanning decades, Mr Henderson was only ever convicted of one matter - sexually assaulting two boys at the Casuarina public pool in October 1983.

He pleaded guilty and was released on a $500 good behaviour bond in 1984.

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse heard evidence Mr Henderson also allegedly abused children at local swimming spots including Berry Springs, Howard Springs and at a swimming pool used by children at the Retta Dixon home, where he worked as a house parent.

The alleged abuse spanned between July 1965 and October 1983.

Lawyer John Lawrence SC, who is acting for some of Mr Henderson's alleged victims, questioned former police detective Roger Newman as to why he thought Mr Henderson was not prosecuted for crimes other than the 1983 charges.

"It would have alerted you as a detective that he might have felt a lot safer against the authorities if the charges were in relation to young boys and girls from Retta Dixon, as opposed to a couple of young white kids," Mr Lawrence said.

She is concerned that he [Henderson] is still molesting young children

Running sheet from Nightcliff Police, 1992.

Mr Newman has been critical of the decision not to prosecute Mr Henderson, who had court action withdrawn against him in 1976 and again in 2002.

A document tendered to the commission showed that Michael Carey, who at the time was the General Counsel to the NT Director of Public Prosecutions, recommended the 2002 charges against Mr Henderson be dropped because of inconsistencies with testimony from some witnesses and an inability for some of them to nail a particular alleged offence to a particular time.

Mr Carey is now a sitting NT Magistrate.

Mr Henderson has previously been named at the royal commission in connection to dozens of alleged child sex crimes, including causing so much damage to some small boys that they had to wear nappies to school.

PHOTO: Lawyer John Lawrence (left) questions former police detective Roger Newman about a sex assault investigation.

Documents tendered to the commission showed that as late as 1992 one of the alleged victims of Mr Henderson complained to police that they had seen him with young boys in his car and hanging around the Anula shops.

"She is concerned that he is still molesting young children," the information from the Nightcliff police station said.

Mr Henderson is now 78 years of age, is said to be in poor health, and has not appeared at the royal commission.

The commission heard that Mr Henderson may have been connected to YMCA World Vision after leaving Retta Dixon.

Evidence was heard that Mr Henderson may also have adopted children.

Retta Dixon was a home in Darwin that mainly housed Aboriginal children, including many from the Stolen Generations, and has been at the centre of child abuse allegations discussed at the royal commission's Darwin hearings.

The home was open between 1946 and 1980.

One victim at Retta Dixon alone alleged 112 counts of carnal knowledge without consent and two counts of indecent assault by Mr Henderson, while at the home.