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Furlong Rcmp Sex Abuse File Remains Open, Despite Claim

By Kate Webb
The Metro
October 28, 2013

http://metronews.ca/news/vancouver/837970/furlong-rcmp-sex-abuse-file-remains-open-despite-claim/

Former Vancouver Olympics CEO John Furlong listens as his lawyer reads a statement to respond to allegations of abuse against Furlong brought forward by former First Nations students in Burns Lake dating back to 1969.

John Furlong says he’s “done” with allegations of sexual abuse raised by Beverly Abraham after the RCMP dismissed them in April — but RCMP say the investigation remains open after an independent review of their methods.

Abraham is one of three people who allege the former Olympics CEO sexually abused them more than 40 years ago. Another eight allege that he physically and verbally abused them when he was a teacher at a Burns Lake Catholic school.

None of the allegations have been proven in court and Furlong has filed several defamation suits denying all claims and seeking damages against the accusers.

“We are done with this. This is over,” Furlong told Global News on Sunday, after displaying a letter RCMP sent him in April indicating they had closed the Abraham case.

“I’m not going to put another second into this. I’m going to move on, as I’ve said, by escalating this case and exposing this and try to get on with my life.”

But senior RCMP spokesman Sgt. Rob Vermeulen said in an email on Monday that an independent review of the Mounties’ investigation by a major crime section in another province resulted in a number of investigative recommendations.

“We’re aware of all the allegations that have been raised publicly,” Vermeulen said.

“We’re still following up on the recommendations received through the independent review, and as such, the overall file remains open.”

Furlong told Global that the last year since the allegations surfaced has been like “living in hell.”

“To sit in a room with an RCMP officer and be investigated and asked questions about something like this is the worst experience of my entire life,” he said.

“To actually sit there and have an officer look me in the eye and ask me the kind of things that we’re talking about now, I mean, it was sickening.”




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