Women Claim Furlong Abused Them

By Kelly Sinoski
Vancouver Sun
July 25, 2013

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Women+claim+Furlong+abused+them/8705509/story.html

Two former students of a Burns Lake Catholic elementary school have filed notices of civil claim in B.C. Supreme Court, alleging they were physically and sexually abused by former Vanoc CEO John Furlong when he taught at the school in 1969-70.

Beverly Mary Abraham and Grace Jessie West claim the abuse occurred after gym class at Immaculata elementary school where Furlong was a physical education teacher.

The women also allege the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver, Roman Catholic Prince George Diocese and Catholic School Diocese of Prince George are "vicariously liable" for the abuse because they did nothing to stop it.

In their claims, which have yet to be proven in court, both women allege they were sexually abused by Furlong in the school gym, the equipment room and a mechanical closet, usually after the physical education class had ended. Furlong could not be reached for comment through his lawyer or the public relations firm that represents him, TwentyTen Group.

But he has insisted in the past that he never abused students while he was a volunteer teacher in Burns Lake and Prince George from 1969 to the early 1970s.

Abraham, now 55, alleges Furlong sexually molested her 12 times when she was 11 years old and attending the school.

The abuse included grabbing her buttocks and breasts, touching her vagina and vaginal area and attempting to put his tongue in her mouth, her claim states.

She also alleges Furlong justified his touching by saying, "You're my beautiful Indian girl and my protege," and his "favourite of all the girls."

On the other hand, the claim alleges, Furlong also requested that one or more of the nuns operating the school punish Abraham by forcing her to kneel and then striking her open palms repeatedly.

West, who was nine at the time and is now 53, claims she was sexually molested by Furlong in a similar manner at least once a week, and was also physically abused.

Her claim alleges Furlong kicked her in the buttocks every day and also kicked her legs and back, while calling her a "dirty Indian" and "squaw."

West said she told her father, who confronted Furlong and the school administrator before moving her to another school in Smithers.

Both women claim Furlong violated their sexual integrity and caused them to suffer health and psychological problems and conditions - including anxiety and depression - and made it difficult for them to form sexual and emotional bonds.

They also claim they were intimidated by the defendants and their influence, and were initially unaware they could bring legal action against Furlong.

Their allegations follow a televised press conference last September, in which Furlong responded to a series of articles by journalist Laura Robinson, and published by the Georgia Straight, on his alleged verbal and physical abuse of First Nations students at the Burns Lake school. The women also allege Furlong defamed them in that press conference by stating or implying that the people who alleged that he had sexually or physically abused them were "lying or were liars attempting to extort him."

Those words, both women said in their separate claims, were defamatory, damaged their reputations and "deepened the emotional and psychological injuries" caused by the abuse. The women also claim the other defendants failed to prevent Furlong from sexually abusing them and failed to implement the appropriate policies to ensure they did not hire or continue to employ people who were a risk to the physical and sexual integrity of children enrolled at Immaculata Elementary.

They are seeking general, special and punitive damages and "any and all other relief that may be just and fair."

Furlong in turn is suing Robinson, an Ontario-based investigative journalist, alleging she has a "personal vendetta" against him.

Furlong, who launched a very successful public-speaking career after the Vancouver 2010 Games, insists the accusations are false and defamatory.

None of the allegations has been proven in court.

ksinoski@vancouversun.com With a file from Canadian Press