Catherine McAuley Centre: Maurice Blackburn lawyers appeal for witnesses after woman’s sex abuse allegations

[Pelican Press 0]

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Catherine McAuley Centre: Maurice Blackburn lawyers appeal for witnesses after woman’s **** ****** allegations

Lawyers representing a woman who claims she was ********* abused at a childcare facility run by ********* nuns are calling for witnesses to help “access justice” for their client, as the ******* tries to throw the case out in court.

The woman was admitted to the Catherine McAuley Centre in Wembley in the late 1970s after her mother became unwell before she was allegedly abused by two people at the facility.

Maurice Blackburn lawyer Hugo Seymour — who is representing the woman — said the facility, which was run by the Sisters of Mercy, housed “hundreds of children over the years”.

Mr Seymour’s client was nine years old at the time of the alleged offending.

As a result of the woman suing the ******* for damages over the alleged ******, Mr Seymour said the religious institution had filed an application for a permanent stay of the proceedings — which could ultimately throw the case out if approved.

Mr Seymour said that stay applications in historical ******* ****** cases often entail “defendants arguing there aren’t enough documents, witnesses and evidence for the case to be fairly heard at trial”.

“We are hoping that witnesses can come forward and assist us to oppose this application,” he said.

The firm is also seeking to speak with anyone who can provide insight into what it was like living at the centre during the late 1970s.

Mr Seymour’s client has also brought a claim against the State Government over the alleged ****** after she was placed into the care of the Sisters of Mercy.

“(The Catherine McAuley Centre) was regulated by the state government as an institution,” Mr Seymour added.

An advertisement by the law firm on page 14 of Wednesday’s The West *********** said the Sisters of Mercy were “trying to stop the proceedings” through their application.

“Law reforms have enabled survivors to come forward and make their claim… but this issue of permanent stays has been around, casting a shadow over the legal landscape for years,” Mr Seymour said.

“In cases of ****** back decades – where there are often limited documents and records – what people can recollect and remember can be really important for survivors to access justice.

“We certainly encourage anyone who may have something important to say to come forward.”

The centre housed both teenage boys and ****** before it was replaced by Mercy Community Services — which is now known as MercyCare — in 1991.

The law firm can be contacted confidentially on 08 6220 4306 or via email at *****@*****.tld

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