AUSTRALIA
Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse
The Royal Commission will hold a public hearing in Sydney commencing Monday 10 March 2014 into the response of the Catholic Church to:
(a) the complaint of child sexual abuse made by John Ellis under Towards Healing
(b) the review of the Towards Healing process in relation to John Ellis’ complaint
(c) the civil action commenced by John Ellis in relation to his complaint.
The hearing will also examine the experience of John Ellis in relation to:
(a) the Towards Healing process
(b) the review of the Towards Healing process in relation to his complaint
(c) the civil action commenced by him in relation to his complaint.
Royal Commission CEO Janette Dines said this hearing will be the second case study examining the application of Towards Healing.
“This hearing will focus on the experiences of Mr Ellis whose claim of child sexual abuse, against a priest within the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney, was dealt with through the Towards Healing process and in civil litigation.
“This hearing will be an opportunity for the Royal Commission to examine the response of the Catholic Church to Mr Ellis’ claim, including the application of Towards Healing and the circumstances in which the Catholic Church raised what is commonly referred to as the ‘Ellis defence’,” Ms Dines said.
Any person or institution who believes that they have a direct and substantial interest in the Scope and Purpose of the public hearing is invited to lodge a written application for leave to appear at the public hearing by Wednesday 26 February 2014.
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