Christian Brothers resettle with WA abuse victims after royal commission review

By Leanne Nicholson
WA Today
July 7, 2015

http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/christian-brothers-resettle-with-wa-abuse-victims-after-royal-commission-review-20150706-gi68uu.html

Christian Brothers have resettled with some abuse victims after a review

Protestors outside the Perth inquiry into abuse in orphanages in April last year

Dozens of victims of abuse meted out by Christian Brothers at West Australian facilities have resettled their claims following a review sparked by a royal commission into child abuse in institutions. 

Almost half of the 130 requests submitted by abuse victims for the Christian Brothers to re-examine their outcomes have been resettled. 

The reviews were being held after the Christian Brothers gave an undertaking at the royal commission last year to re-examine "demonstrably unjust" and "unreasonably low" settlements.

Following the undertaking, 130 requests were made to review settlements connected with abuses carried out at the Christian Brothers' WA facilities at Tardun, Bindoon, Clontarf and Castledare.

Christian Brothers Oceania provincial leader Brother Peter Clinch said 64 re-examined cases were finalised and new settlements had been reached.

"These resettled matters now account for 49 per cent of the requests received by the Christian Brothers Oceania relating to the Western Australian institutions," he said.

"The Christian Brothers are confident of continuing to make further progress in these matters over coming months and details will be provided in a sixth update in due course."

According to a Christian Brothers' statement, mediation and meetings have been held for 70 review matters.

Victims recalled at the royal commission in Perth last year horrific examples of abuse at state-run and Christian Brothers' facilities.

They then spoke of their fight to be believed, acknowledged and compensated through the WA Redress scheme.