CANADA
The Globe and Mail
SUNNY DHILLON
VANCOUVER — The Globe and Mail
Published Monday, Jun. 22, 2015
The former CEO of the Vancouver Olympics says allegations contained in a newspaper article that said he physically abused students when he was a gym teacher in northern British Columbia and separate claims of sexual abuse were “absolutely not true, not ever.”
John Furlong began his testimony in a B.C. Supreme Court defamation case on Monday.
Freelance journalist Laura Robinson authored an article about Mr. Furlong that was published by the weekly newspaper Georgia Straight in September, 2012. The physical-abuse allegations against Mr. Furlong stemmed from his time as a gym instructor at Immaculata Roman Catholic Elementary School in Burns Lake, B.C, in 1969-70.
Mr. Furlong had filed lawsuits against Ms. Robinson and the Georgia Straight, but ultimately abandoned both. Ms. Robinson, however, has continued her case against Mr. Furlong, alleging his response to the story was defamatory because he alleged she did not carry out due diligence and had a vendetta.
Mr. Furlong said the story received an avalanche of attention when it was published, calling it “one of the worst mornings of my life.” Alleging someone abused or sexually abused children is “about the worst thing you can say,” he told the court.
Mr. Furlong said he was flooded by calls when the story was posted and pressure was building to respond, so he held a news conference to read a prepared statement.
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