Couple hopeful inquiry will foster healing

Cornwall Standard Freeholder
Terri Saunders

Wednesday, December 13, 2006 - 10:00

Local News - Victims should not fear coming forward to testify at the Cornwall Public Inquiry, a child sexual abuse survivor said Tuesday.

"They shouldn't be afraid," said Albert Roy. "It's not as bad as they might think it is."

Roy spent five days on the witness stand, although his testimony was spread out over several days from early November to Tuesday.

After finally completing his evidence about the effects of being sexually abused as a teenager had on him, he and his wife, Vicky, said they believe the inquiry will serve to help the community heal. "I think the commission is doing a good thing," said Albert. "My big worry is about after (it's finished.) The politicians who will get the recommendations which come out of the inquiry - are they going to act on them?"

Albert was sexually abused in the late 1970s by two probation officers, Nelson Barque and Ken Seguin, when he was 16 years old.

Seguin committed suicide before he was ever charged criminally and Barque received four months in jail after pleading guilty to sex-related crimes.

Following the completion of her testimony, Vicky said she remains hopeful the inquiry will serve to encourage organizations to do everything they can to protect children.

"They need to be taken care of," she said. "They need to be helped." Vicky also talked about the feedback she's been getting from people in the community about the ability of the inquiry to promote healing and reconciliation and to make a difference in the way similar allegations are handled by public institutions.

"A lot of people think it's a good thing," she said. "People want to know the truth and they want to see things change."