Child abuse inquiry: former MP 'sensationalised' abuse allegations ...

By Marlina Whop And William Rollo
7 News
April 21, 2015

https://au.news.yahoo.com/qld/a/27252840/child-abuse-inquiry-former-mp-sensationalised-abuse-allegations-at-neerkol-orphanage-near-rockhampton-sister-berneice-loch-says/

For more than three decades, children at St Joseph's Orphanage at Neerkol were raped, molested and beaten.

Child abuse inquiry: former MP 'sensationalised' abuse allegations at Neerkol orphanage near Rockhampton, Sister Berneice Loch says

A senior nun has criticised a former Queensland MP for "sensationalising" allegations of abuse at the Neerkol orphanage near Rockhampton in State Parliament during the 1990s.

Sister Berneice Loch has testified today at theRoyal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in the central Queensland city.

Sister Loch was a senior member of the Sisters of Mercy when allegations of abuse at the orphanage first came to light in the 1990s.

In September 1996, then-Queensland minister for family, youth and community care, Kevin Lingard, told State Parliament that six calls had been made to the child sexual abuse hotline about former residents of the orphanage.

Mr Lingard planned to refer the matter to the then children's commissioner.

Sister Loch told the hearing today the damaging allegations should not have been heard in public before they were substantiated.

She said she had been "astounded" and "dismayed" by Mr Lingard's statement to Parliament at the time.

Counsel assisting the inquiry, Sophie David SC, asked Sister Loch today why it would have been sensational for Mr Lingard to make those allegations public in Parliament.

"I only say that it seemed sensational to me at the time," Sister Loch said.

"There had been no allegation that I had heard of sexual abuse by a sister and that was certainly sensationalised."

She said she refused to accept it was fair for the claims to be raised in State Parliament, following the Catholic Church's slow response to respond to the allegations.

She said the claims should have been substantiated before they were made public and that Mr Lingard had sensationalised the issue.

"This was a very public statement in the eyes of the public - this was a statement that these things had all happened, because that's what came through in the [newspapers]," Sister Loch said.

Under cross-examination today, Sister Loch also testified she had not contacted several abuse victims after hearing of their ordeals.

Sister Loch said yesterday she first became aware of abuse allegations when she saw an article in a Rockhampton newspaper in the early 1990s.

The article quoted a former resident who suffered a miscarriage after she was raped when she was 11 years old.

Sister Loch admitted to the inquiry she failed to show compassion when the initial abuse allegations were brought forward.

In September 1997, the Sisters of Mercy apologised to the former residents of the orphanage.

The inquiry was also shown today a draft press release written by the Sisters of Mercy responding to the abuse that read: "It is only natural that a legacy of parental deprivation would leave some former residents bitter and resentful."

Sister Loch told the inquiry that had not been not an accusation, but admitted it was her opinion at the time.

She admitted amending the press statement several times, but said it had never been released publicly.

In 1993, a book written by former resident, identified at the inquiry as 'AYC', had been the subject of media attention at the time.

In the penultimate paragraph, the media release had said "that controversy and media sensationalism are part of the promotional activities of the author".

Inquiry solicitor Aaron Kernaghan asked Sister Loch today whether that press release "was preparing to throw dirt at the [book] author?"

Sister Loch replied: "I don't accept that - we didn't use [the press release]."

The commission, which began hearings last Tuesday in Rockhampton, was told that for more than three decades, children at the orphanage were raped, molested and beaten.

The Sisters of Mercy ran the Neerkol orphanage for half a century before it closed in the late 1970s.

One witness said she was raped when she was 14 by a worker at the orphanage in 1965, another was sexually abused by a priest and forced to drink her own urine to stay hydrated.

Father Reg Durham, who was the administrator for the parish of Neerkol and had resided in the presbytery, was charged in 1997 with 40 sexual offences against five former residents and pleaded guilty to six counts of indecently dealing with a child.

Retired Rockhampton Bishop Brian Heenan told the inquiry he never took steps to de-frock Durham - even after the priest pleaded guilty - before his death in 2002.

Yesterday, Bishop Heenan apologised outside court for the sexual abuse of children at the orphanage and for failing victims when they came forward.

In his apology, Bishop Heenan said he hopedhis evidence provided a deeper understanding of the devastation caused by sexual abuse and the impact it has on victims and families.