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  Police Appeal to Potential Sex Assault Victims

CTV
October 1, 2010

http://montreal.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20100930/mtl_victims_6pm_generic_20100930/20100930/?hub=MontrealHome



Montreal police are looking for possible victims of sexual abuse at College Notre Dame dating back as much as 40 years.

The Sexual Assault Squad has confirmed it has opened an investigation after a Laval man complained of abuse at the Catholic school in the early 70s.

Other former students have requested permission to launch a class action lawsuit against the school also alleging sexual and physical abuse.

So far about 20 people are trying to sue the congregation Ste-Croix.

Ste-croix is the religious order that owns the school and St. Joseph's Oratory, but the order's members stopped teaching at College Notre Dame in the 1990's.

Some former students claim they were sexually abused as far back as the early 60s.

Last week a Laval man filed a complaint with Montreal police for abuse he says took place in 1972 when he was 12-years-old.

Since so many people are trying to sue the order, police say they have reason to believe there are more victims. They're encouraging such people to come forward.

Robert Cornellier has requested permission to launch a class action lawsuit against the order alleging his late brother Rene was abused in the early 70s.

His proof, he says, is a series of letters his brother wrote to the school and the school's board back in 1993 naming names.

Since these letters came to light a couple of years ago about 20 people have joined Cornellier's request for a class action lawsuit all alleging the same thing - abuse at the hands of priests who taught at College Notre Dame.

Cornellier's request for a class action lawsuit will be heard in December and in the meantime police are continuing their investigation.

Cornellier said he did meet with the congregation Ste-Croix to try to come to some sort of settlement in his brother's case but nothing came of that meeting.

 
 

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