Paedophile’s Victims Speak out, by Luvuyo Mjekula, IOL, December 3, 2010

Paedophile’s Victims Speak out

By Luvuyo Mjekula
IOL
December 3, 2010

http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/paedophile-s-victims-speak-out-1.913139

Former Catholic school teacher Ian Appleton leaves the Paarl Regional Court this week where he was convicted of raping a seven-year-old boy a few years ago. He now faces a barrage of allegations of sexual molestation by former pupils at Christian Brothers College more than 20 years ago. Photo: Jason Boud

He came from a prominent Cape family. He was a teacher at a Catholic school and a scoutmaster. Now convicted paedophile Ian Appleton stands accused of sexually abusing a number of his former pupils.

This follows an article in the Cape Times in October which reported on Appleton’s conviction for raping a seven-year-old boy a few years ago. The boy was the son of a family friend. He pleaded guilty.

Appleton, 72, appeared in court again this week in connection with the rape and the boy’s mother testified in aggravation of sentence.

Soon after the October report, 10 men contacted the newspaper by e-mail or telephone with allegations that Appleton had sexually assaulted them when they were boys, dating as far back as 1976.

Appleton was a teacher at Christian Brothers College (CBC) in Green Point between 1976 and 1982.

The men who contacted the newspaper – some CBC old boys, some former Scouts, some sons of family friends – gave accounts of their experiences. Many of their accounts revealed a similar modus operandi and in most cases Appleton was a friend of the boys’ families.

One former pupil, a Cape businessman, told the Cape Times that the report had brought back bleak memories.

“I was horrified to hear the other day that he was arrested for abusing a youngster,” said Rick (not his real name).

Now 40, Rick said he wouldn’t let his children near Appleton. He did not want his real name to be used as he has kept the alleged abuse secret from his children.

Another former pupil said that he had come from a “staunch and proud Catholic upbringing” and his encounter with Appleton had left him “confused and frightened”.

He had lived with his secret for more than 20 years. “I continued with my shameful secret and by all means have led a normal and successful lifestyle with a loving family. I have been burdened with the guilt of not voicing this encounter and perhaps saving other victims,” he told the Cape Times.

The men want to know why Appleton was allowed to get away with his actions for so many years.

John Riley, Appleton’s lawyer in the rape case, yesterday declined to comment on the new allegations, which are unrelated to the current case.

“I need to consult my client before commenting. I don’t think it’s appropriate to publish allegations from years ago without having their veracity tested in court,” he said before issuing the newspaper with a threat: “Be very careful of publishing untested stories.”

Many of the men have forwarded their accounts to the prosecutor handling Appleton’s rape case, hoping they could be included in the case.

However the prosecutor in the matter, Rialda Jacobs, said she would not be considering the men’s testimonies because most of the alleged abuse had taken place more than 20 years ago. She would not comment on whether Appleton could face separate charges arising from these allegations.

Jacobs added that Appleton had never been convicted of any previous offences.

Some of the former pupils said they suspected a cover-up by headmasters at CBC where Appleton taught maths and accountancy and was the sports master. The school closed in 2001.

One claimed Appleton was fired from CBC by former headmaster J Gaynor after he found out he was involved in molestation, but was allowed to feature in the college’s sporting activities. “Why wasn’t he excluded from all school functions?” he asked.

However, Brother Terry Dowling, spokesman for Christian Brothers, the church’s committee that ran the college, said: “We refute the allegation that there was a cover-up because, as far as we know, there is no evidence of a complaint having been brought to the attention of the school authorities.

“We are saddened by these allegations and reiterate the church’s stance that child abuse in all its forms, especially sexual abuse, must |be condemned and every step must be taken to prevent any occurrence.”

Asked about allegations that Appleton had been fired from the college, Dowling said: “The principal at the time, JA Gaynor, is dead and we are unable to establish the reason for (Appleton’s) leaving. In subsequent years (1983 to 1989) Mr Appleton continued to be involved in school sport.”

He said the church had put in place preventative measures and strategies to make all staff in church schools aware of the seriousness of child abuse.

Meanwhile the Rev Peter-John Pearson, the Catholic Church’s spokesman, said while the Christian Brothers had oversight of the college at the time, the church had also checked its records and had found no complaints from parents about Appleton.

“School complaints would not be dealt with by the church, especially if the person accused was not a member of the clergy,” said Pearson.

Milly Siebrits, chief executive of the SA Scout Association, said Appleton was an assistant scout master in the early 1960s. “No complaints concerning child abuse were lodged with the association during the time that he was involved.”

luvuyo.mjekula@inl.co.za - Cape Times