BishopAccountability.org
 
  Brother's Abuse Termed As Bad As Priest's
Barry Glendinning's Abuse of Ed and Guy Swales Is Not the Sole Reason for Their Troubles, a Toronto Psychiatrist Testifies

By Peter Geigen-Miller
London Free Press [Canada]
Downloaded October 28, 2003

Sexual abuse by a Catholic priest was just one of several factors that contributed to the troubles experienced by Ed and Guy Swales, a Toronto psychiatrist testified yesterday. Dr. Graham Glancy agreed sexual abuse by Rev. Barry Glendinning between 1969 and 1974 was a major factor in the brothers' problem

Earlier testimony has shown the brothers dropped out of school and turned to alcohol and drug abuse and male prostitution.

But Glancy said serous illnesses experienced by both brothers as well as sexual abuse by their brother John also were major contributors to their problems.

Glancy was testifying at the civil trial in which Ed, Guy and John Swales and their family are suing the Roman Catholic Diocese of London and Glendinning for $7 million in damages they say resulted from sexual abuse by the priest.

Glendinning pleaded guilty in 1974 to sexually abusing six children while he was a teacher at St. Peter's Seminary in London during the late 1960s and early 1970s and was placed on probation for three years.

The Toronto psychiatrist, a frequent expert witness at criminal trials, was called by lawyers for the diocese.

Earlier in the trial, London psychologist Peter Jaffe said other factors played a role in the difficulties experienced by the Swales brothers, but added they paled in comparison to the impact of abuse by Glendinning.

Glancy disagreed with Jaffe's assessment.

In the case of Guy Swales, he gave equal weight to three different causes: sexual abuse by Glendinning, sexual abuse by John Swales and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder.

Justice John Kerr intervened to point out Guy Swales had been diagnosed with some symptoms of the disorder, but not a full case.

Glancy then backtracked, saying he'd assign less than a third of the cause to the disorder.

Glancy also testified about the role of childhood illness in shaping the lives of Ed and Guy Swales.

Ed suffered from congenital heart disease that restricted his level of activity and saw him treated differently than his siblings.

Guy had severe asthma that caused him to miss Grade 1 and spend much of his first three years in hospital.

The disruptive effects of coping with a serious childhood illness can lead to social, academic and vocational difficulties, Glancy said.

He testified sexual abuse by John Swales and the prolonged abuse by Glendinning were equally responsible for Guy's problems.

That's because the abuse by John involved violence and threats of violence and was done by a trusted big brother, he said.

The abuse by Glendinning, by contrast, was not violent or life-threatening, Glancy said.

He said Ed and Guy have managed to turn their lives around after a period of drug and alcohol abuse and prostitution.

The trial in the Superior Court of Justice continues.

 
 

Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.