Abuse Inquiry Continues

Perth Now
November 21, 2014

http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/national/abuse-inquiry-continues/story-fnjj6012-1227130619865?nk=c12c83881d7c9901505928057f5ad682

THE Hutchins School was told there was little chance a sex abuse victim would take legal action, but there was a danger he might use an apology to “go public”.

Correspondence between the school and its lawyers has been released by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

Between 1993 and last month, the school steadfastly refused to apologise to a victim of sexual abuse at the school during the 1960s, given the pseudonym AOA by the Commission.

In a 2002 letter to the school, Hobart lawyers Dobson, Mitchell and Allport said the legal risks were low, but an apology might pose public relations problems.

“These has never been much of a risk that AOA will commence legal proceedings against the school,” the letter said.

“The relevant events occurred many years ago and it is unlikely that AOA would be able to find a way to avoid the relevant time limits for commencing proceedings.

“The real issue has always been whether he will ‘go public’ with his allegations and whether or not any form of apology from the school will resolve the problem or exacerbate it by providing some evidence which AOA will use to support his allegations.

“In essence the problem has always been how to handle the matter if it becomes public.”

In the wake of inquiries about the scandal from the Mercury, the lawyers advised the school to hire a media manager to “limit any adverse publicity”.

Anglican Bishop Ronald Stone, who was the Assistant Bishop in Hobart in the mid-1990s, gave evidence before the Commission today.

He said he was approached by AOA.

“I got involved thinking I could facilitate an apology for AOA,” he said.

“In the light of today I would have dealt with this differently … it’s quite clear I should have done more, although I didn’t think I had the authority to do more.”

He said he did not recall receiving a telephone call from a victim of abuse at the Hutchins School, given the pseudonym AOA by the Commission.

“I’ve searched my mind about this and I have no recollection of this conversation, that’s not to say it didn’t happen,” he said.

“I’m known for keeping files wherever I’ve been and if I’d had that conversation I would have made a file note.

“I’ve been been hampered in the preparation of my statement by the inability of the Diocese of Tasmania to find my files.”

The hearings continue.