AUSTRALIA
lewisblayse.net
The Salvation Army’s Gill Memorial Boys’ Home will be one of the four Children’s Homes which will be covered by the next hearings of the Australian Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. The Home was opened in 1939 by then Australian Prime Minister Lyons, and closed in 1980. It catered for about 90 boys, aged from 3 to 18 years old.
The Salvos are still fighting compensation case from the Home, including in the courts. It clearly is resisting the payment of reasonable compensations. The revelations about the Home will be typical of those at the other three Salvation Army Boys’ Homes which the enquiry will consider – Alkira Indooroopilly Boys’ Home (the author’s old Home), Riverview Training Farm (see previous posting) and Bexley Boys’ Home (see yesterday’s posting).
Ralph Doughty, 80, (pictured above) entered the Home at age seven, when his mother died. His father had been a World War 1 veteran. He was there for 10 years. Recently, he has filed a civil claim against the Salvation Army for $10 million, or as he puts it, $1 million for each year. He claims that the Salvation Army has told him that it will use delaying tactics so that he will die before the case is resolved.
Despite having previously offered Dr. Doughty a $150,000 ex-gratia payment ((plus $3,000 for psychiatrists fees), including a clause saying he will not pursue further civil claims, the Salvos have entered an unusual statement to the courts. It would “not admit” that Mr Doughty ever resided at Gill Memorial Home, that he was abused or that he still suffers psychologically from any alleged abuse.
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