AUSTRALIA
ABC News
By Courtney Bembridge
An inquiry into child sexual abuse at four Christian Brothers institutions in Western Australia has found that the organisation was aware of abuse allegations for decades – and the damage it could cause – but did not stop it.
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse examined abuse at Christian Brothers institutions in Bindoon, Tardun and Perth between 1947 and 1968 and found management failed to prevent the sexual abuse of children living at the schools.
Some of the victims were as young as seven when they were sexually and physically abused by brothers and older boys.
Eleven of the schools’ former residents gave evidence at hearings in Perth throughout April and May.
The men recounted stories of painful abuse and psychological damage they have suffered as a result, which led to depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and alcoholism.
Sixteen brothers were named as perpetrators of sexual abuse, but only four were ever charged and of those, only one was jailed.
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