AUSTRALIA
ABC News
[with audio]
As the child abuse inquiry report was handed down in the Victorian Parliament, the public gallery was packed with victims of child sexual abuse, and their families. Some later said they felt a sense of euphoria about the report, but they also had trepidation about the future. They also said they wanted the government to amend laws, as recommended by the report, as quickly as possible.
Transcript
ELEANOR HALL: As the report was handed down in the Victorian Parliament this morning, the public gallery was packed with victims of child sexual abuse and their families, many of whom gave evidence at the inquiry.
Our reporter Alison Caldwell spoke to some of them afterwards.
ALISON CALDWELL: Anthony Foster’s daughters, Emma and Katie, were repeatedly raped by their parish priest, Father Kevin O’Donnell, at their primary school in Melbourne’s south east, from 1987 until 1992.
The Catholic Church had received numerous complaints about O’Donnell’s behaviour dating back to the 1940s, but no action was ever taken.
Emma Foster eventually committed suicide. Her sister Katie was seriously disabled when she was hit by a car after binge drinking and now requires 24 hour care.
Anthony Foster says he and his wife Chrissie feel a sense of euphoria today, but also trepidation about what lies ahead.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.