AUSTRALIA
ABC News
By Charlotte King
The Christian Brothers religious order has refuted allegations it is dodging compensation claims from former sex abuse victims.
The order said it had paid over $20 million in compensation through litigation in the last year.
A former student from the St Alipius boys school in Ballarat and his lawyer accused the order of using smoke and mirrors tactics to avoid paying compensation for past abuse.
The survivor, Ron Kochskamper, and his lawyer, Vivian Waller, complained that Christian Brothers were not willing to back a defendant they provided to be sued — Brother Robert Best — with their assets, making it impossible for victims to achieve adequate compensation.
The order has now confirmed that Mr Kochskamper will be provided with a trustee so that legal action can go forward, and this trustee will be financially backed.
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