Names not essential: judge

Cornwall Standard Freeholder

17 November  2006

Local News - Making public the name of sexual abuse victims who have not come forward to the Cornwall Public Inquiry will cause undue harm, the commission's judge ruled Thursday.

In delivering his decision on a series of requests to keep private the names of victims and alleged victims who have never publicly disclosed abuse allegations, Comm. Normand Glaude said individuals' identities are not essential to the inquiry's mandate.

"Being identified as a victim, alleged victim or potential victim of sexual abuse is a highly intimate and personal matter, particularly when such information was never made public," said Glaude. "I have no doubt that the release of information that could identify (a) person as a victim of sexual abuse would pose serious risks to (his or her) privacy issues."

Since the inquiry began hearing evidence from victims and alleged victims in October, several parties have requested portions of documents be either marked as confidential, protected by a publication ban or have segments blacked out. In some cases, such as information which may have been sent to a child abuse registry, Glaude has decided the documents should be made public. In other cases, such as psychiatric reports relating to specific individuals, he has decided they must remain confidential.

"If information is not relevant or is only marginally relevant to the mandate of the inquiry, the (harmful) effects of a confidentiality measure applicable to such information should be limited," Glaude said.