SA: Pedophiles abused foster children for decades: commissioner

AAP General News (Australia)
04-01-2008
SA: Pedophiles abused foster children for decades: commissioner

By Steve Larkin

ADELAIDE, April 1 AAP - Priests, doctors and teachers sexually abused foster children
amid pedophile networks representing a "foul undercurrent" of South Australian society,
an inquiry has found.

The inquiry commissioner, former Supreme Court Justice Ted Mullighan, said today he
believed systematic sexual abuse of state wards was continuing.

Mr Mullighan said he was "appalled and horrified" at the results of his three-year
Children in State Care Commission of Inquiry, but added they were only the "tip of the
iceberg".

The inquiry heard evidence suggesting South Australia's child protection system, "like
its counterparts elsewhere in Australia, is in crisis", Mr Mullighan said.

He found the abuse of state wards occurred in every type of care including church institutions,
the Salvation Army, government and non-government homes for children and youth shelters
and foster homes.

Some foster children were used at pedophile parties for sexual gratification, he said.

Mr Mullighan said there were organised groups of pedophiles preying on, and sexually
abusing, foster children.

"I don't think there was any doubt that there was a number of groups of people who
were preying on children and abusing them," he told reporters.

"The individual groups themselves were clearly very well organised.

"I would be surprised if it's not still happening."

Premier Mike Rann said he was sickened by Mr Mullighan's 600-page report, tabled in
state parliament today.

"It turned my stomach, it made me feel physically ill," Mr Rann told reporters.

Mr Mullighan heard from 792 people who said they had been sexually abused by 1,733
alleged perpetrators from the 1930s to the present.

Of those, he determined 242 victims had been in state care at the time of the alleged abuse.

The inquiry referred 170 allegations to police involving 434 perpetrators, with two
suspects already arrested and 13 others reported.

"Nothing prepared me for the foul undercurrent of society revealed," Mr Mullighan wrote
in his final report.

"I was not prepared for the horror of the sexual cruelty and exploitation of little
children and vulnerable young people in state care by people in positions of trust."

The extent of sexual abuse of state wards could never be known, with many adults abused
as children in state care not coming forward, he said.

Mr Mullighan said "most of the people who said they disclosed the sexual abuse as children
were not believed".

He heard evidence the abuse was perpetrated by people including foster parents, their
sons, teachers, priests, social workers and strangers.

Asked how to describe his reaction to the evidence presented to the inquiry, Mr Mullighan
told reporters: "I don't know that I could find the right word.

"I was appalled and horrified at the way in which children were exploited and abused
and threatened and disempowered, and that they lived for years in that situation without
being able to do anything about it.

"One lady disclosed it for the first time at the age of 81, so I don't know what word
is the appropriate word to use."

Mr Rann said his government would formally apologise to the abused foster children,
adding he believed they should be paid compensation.

Hundreds of victims were expected to now lodge compensation claims with the courts,
and others to apply for victims of crime fund compensation.

Mr Mullighan made 54 recommendations including legislating for a charter of rights
for children and a review of the training of social workers.

He also called for an extensive media campaign to educate the community on child sexual
abuse, with reference to the tactics of pedophiles and others involved in abuse.

The government committed to responding to all recommendations by June 19 this year.

AAP sl/sp

KEYWORD: ABUSE NIGHTLEAD (WITH FACTBOXES)

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