AUSTRALIA
Brisbane Times
Children housed in a notorious central Queensland orphanage were subjected to repeated physical and sexual abuse and allegedly punished if they spoke out, a national inquiry has heard.
Thirteen former residents of the Neerkol Orphanage near Rockhampton are set to describe their traumatic experiences at a public hearing of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
Counsel assisting the commission Sophie David SC said the allegations centre on three priests, now
Ms David told the hearing in Rockhampton that the former residents, many who can’t be identified by name, will speak of how they were beaten by nuns and repeatedly sexually abused by priests connected to the orphanage.
She said many former residents will say they were too frightened to report the abuse, while others reported being physically punished for speaking out.
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