AUSTRALIA
Sydney Morning Herald
Royal commission into sex abuse: CEO of global charity ‘indecently assaulted’ as a girl by former Knox headmaster
Rachel Browne
Social Affairs Reporter
The chief executive of a global women’s health charity was allegedly indecently assaulted by former Knox Grammar School headmaster Ian Paterson.
Lucy Perry, chief executive of Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia (Australia), has been called to give evidence to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, which is holding a public hearing into the elite school.
Evidence tendered to the commission shows Ms Perry reported the assault to NSW police in 2009 when numerous allegations about widespread sexual abuse at the school were coming out.
In information provided to the police Ms Perry alleged that as a student at Roseville Ladies College she attended Knox Grammar on a regular basis to perform in plays and musicals.
She said that when she was 16 years old in 1989 Dr Paterson indecently assaulted her backstage after a performance.
A report compiled by the NSW Police and tendered to the commission reads: “PERRY stated that PATTERSON (sic) patted her on the bottom a few times and slide his hand underneath and touched her in the genital area. PERRY stated that it only lasted a few seconds and that she stepped forward to remove his hand . .. At the time. PERRY was wearing a leotard and fishnet stockings. PERRY is unaware if the incident was witnessed by anyone else.”
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