SQLFusion - Benoit Brisson Affidavit for Cornwall Inquiry standing and funding

Benoit Brisson

Benoit Brisson was sexually molested by Father Gilles Deslaurier, a Roman Catholic priest in the Diocese of Alexandria-Cornwall, Ontario

03 July 2008: Priest never thought of going to police, CAS

Media coverage of testimony of Benoit Brisson and his family

Benoit Brisson Affidavit

IN THE MATTER OF THE PUBLIC INQUIRY INTO THE EVENTS
SURROUNDING THE ALLEGATIONS OF ABUSE OF YOUNG
PEOPLE IN CORNWALL, ONTARIO
AND
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR STANDING AND
FUNDING FOR THE VICTIMS OF THE ABUSE

AFFIDAVIT OF BENOIT BRISSON

I, BENOIT BRISSON, of the City of Cornwall, in the United County of Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry, in the Province of Ontario, MAKE OATH AND SAY AS FOLLOWS:

1. I am one of the group of victims who was sexually abused (hereinafter referred to as "Victims Group") in the Cornwall area.

2. In 1977, at the age of sixteen, I was sexually abused by Father Gilles Deslauriers. This abuse continued for three years.

3. The Victims Group seeks standing at this Inquiry to ensure that the perspective of the Victims Group is brought before the Inquiry.

4. As a victim of sexual abuse, my perspective includes the following:

a. If I had received help in dealing with the consequences of my abuse earlier on, my life would have been different. I would have felt less ostracized and my feelings of shame may have been minimized.

b. When the Church and School Board became aware of the behaviours of Father Deslauriers in 1986, they may have stopped or controlled him, thereby preventing his further abuse of other victims.

Impact of the Abuse

5. As a result of this sexual abuse I lost my childhood. I struggled to come to terms with what had happened and I turned to drugs and alcohol to help me cope.

6. My poor coping mechanisms have hampered my ability to work as I have needed time off to deal with the emotional trauma that I have experienced. As a result, I have had difficulties maintaining gainful employment and am in debt as I struggle to financially support my family.

7. I have tried to deal with depression and have been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

8. Despite prior devotion to the Catholic faith, being abused by a Catholic priest has resulted in a complete loss of my religious faith.

9. Since the abuse and the failure of any form of institutional response, I have lost trust in authority figures and institutions. I have not been able to form intimate relationships.

Failings of the Institutional Response

10. In July 1986, Father Deslauriers plead guilty and was convicted of 11 counts of gross indecency and other sexual misconduct. He received a sentence of two years probation.

11. At no time have I ever been offered any psychological counselling or support by the Diocese of Alexandria-Cornwall to help me deal with the consequences of the abuse that I suffered at the hands of Father Gilles Deslauriers.

12. When I was abused by Father Gilles Deslauriers, he was Chaplin of La Citadelle, the high school which I attended. When the Conseil Scolaire De District Catholique De L'Est Ontarien learned of my abuse, in January 1986, they did not offer me any support or counselling. They did not assist me in any way and as a result of their action, I felt ostracized from the Church community. I felt ashamed and guilty which shame and guilt I have carried all my life.

13. I have come to learn that had I received early assistance from the Church, school and psychological counselling, the impact of the abuse upon my life would have been less.

14. I believe that further details of my first hand experience as a victim dealing with the Cornwall police and justice system, which is the focus of Part I of this Inquiry, would be beneficial information for the Inquiry. I believe that my experiences and those of other victims must be canvassed by the Inquiry in order for it to fulfill its mandate.

15. My detailed experiences dealing with the police and justice institutions could be obtained by my testimony or the provision of a summary of my experiences. The provision of either would be most effective if counsel were provided to me as it would be to other victims.

Clinical Support

16. I am currently receiving limited psychological help in dealing with the abuse that I endured at the hands of Father Gilles Deslauriers.

17. While I am currently satisfied with the level of support that I am receiving, I verily belief that there are others in the Victims Group who are not receiving the support that they so desperately require.

18. I verily believe that I will continue to require psychological support and counselling to help me deal with the emotional trauma I have suffered as a result of the abuse.

Standing

19. As a first hand victim of sexual abuse, I verily believe that it is crucial that my perspective be brought before the Inquiry.

Therefore, I have a direct interest in the outcome of this Inquiry and, as part of the Victims Group, have a substantial interest in ensuring the objectives of this Inquiry are met.

20. I further understand that I have the potential for a civil action or application for criminal injuries compensation and that those legal

rights may be impacted by my participation within the Inquiry. Accordingly, I believe that I need access to legal counsel, as do other victims like me, in order to fairly participate without detrimental impact upon my civil and administrative remedies.

21. Having personally experienced the depths of the impact of sexual abuse and the related institutional failings, I, like other victims have the greatest motivation to see the system corrected and improved.

22. I strongly believe that there is no greater advocate for systematic improvement of the treatment, handling, and prosecution of sexual abuse cases than the victims themselves.

Funding

23. One of the devastating effects of my sexual abuse has been my inability to maintain gainful employment. I have been clinically diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. As such, I am currently enrolled in a self-employment program provided by Human Resources Development Canada and earn an income in the monthly amount of $1,400.00. This is my only source of income.

Therefore, in order to participate and be adequately represented at the Cornwall Inquiry I require that Ledroit Beckett, as my counsel of choice, receive funding to represent my interests without which I would otherwise be unable to participate in the Inquiry.

SWORN BEFORE ME at the City of Cornwall, in the United County of Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry, this 18th day of October, 2005

A Commissioner, etc. Benoit Brisson