CAS admits failings at Project Truth inquiry

June 6, 2007

By CP

CORNWALL — Children who lived in a city group home in the 1970s weren’t properly cared for, a lawyer for a social services agency admitted Tuesday to an inquiry probing the institutional response to allegations of systemic sexual abuse in the area.

While cross-examining a witness at the Cornwall Public Inquiry, Children’s Aid Society lawyer Peter Chisholm expressed his client’s regret at the circumstances which existed at the home.

“The CAS apologizes for the inappropriate and demeaning child care measures used in the Second Street group home when you were there,” Chisholm told Jeanette Antoine. “The CAS record reflects the harsh discipline practices (in place at the home.)”

Antoine spent most of Monday afternoon and Tuesday testifying about physical and sexual abuse she says she suffered at the hands of foster families and CAS workers during the 16 years she spent in the care of the agency.

Antoine talked about sexual abuse by a foster father, physical abuse by a foster mother and mistreatment by Brian Keough, a man who served as her caseworker for a period of time in the 1970s. Antoine has alleged she was even locked in the trunk of Keough’s car after she and a group of other children ran away from the group home when she was in her mid-teens. Over the years, Antoine was moved from foster home to foster home more than a dozen in all.

“The CAS regrets you were not able to experience permanency and stability while in the care of the CAS,” said Chisholm. “The CAS also expresses appreciation for you having the courage to come and testify at this inquiry and for having the courage to speak out while in the Second Street group home in 1976 and bringing your concerns to the board of directors.”

Following Chisholm’s statements on behalf of his client, Comm. Normand Glaude asked Antoine if she accepted the apology which had been offered.

“I don’t want to disrespect (Chisholm), but it’s 40 years too late for these apologies,” said Antoine. “No disrespect.”

“None taken,” said Chisholm.

Chisholm’s cross-examination came at the end of an emotionally difficult day for the witness, who recounted more incidents of the physical, sexual and mental abuse she suffered throughout her childhood.

Antoine, who was also sexually abused by her father and went on to become pregnant and give birth to a daughter, was mostly composed on the witness stand, but broke down when she talked about the effects of the abuse.

“I never had a home to call home,” said Antoine, her voice breaking and tears visible in her eyes. “Do you know what it’s like not to be wanted? I never belonged. Nobody wanted me.”

Following a number of police interviews, only Antoine’s father, Ernest Lapointe, was charged with offences related to her allegations. Lapointe was charged with rape, indecent assault, incest and gross indecency. Those charges were withdrawn after it was determined there was not enough evidence to support a conviction. Antoine told the inquiry Tuesday her father committed suicide two months ago.

Antoine also talked about a time when she attended confession at St. Columban’s Church in Cornwall and approached a priest about the abuse she had allegedly endured.

“I think his name was (Rev.) Kevin Maloney,” said Antoine. “He just told me to leave well enough alone.”

An attorney representing the Ministry of the Attorney General suggested Tuesday there was little for prosecutors to go on in relation to Antoine’s allegations.

“There was insufficient evidence to lay charges,” said Judie Im, who also suggested a six-month statute of limitations had run out in relation to allegations of assault made by Antoine. “There was a lack of confirmation of conduct by other wards at the group home.”

Antoine said in speaking with officials from the Cornwall Community Police Service, she was told her allegations were “too far fetched” and she wasn’t “believable.”

“I was angry,” said Antoine. “I felt like I had just gotten another beating. Every time I told, it didn’t go anywhere. It was like nobody cared.”

Meanwhile, the judge helming the inquiry threw out an application by OPP lawyer Gina Brannan which aimed to block the testimony of a woman who says she was sexually assaulted.

The woman, who hasn’t been identified, said she was sexually assaulted as a 16-year-old by two other teens in 1993.

But since she reported the abuse to police the day after the alleged assault, Brannan says that her testimony shouldn’t be included in the proceedings, because it falls outside of the commission’s mandate to explore the institutional response to historic abuse in the Cornwall area.