SQLFusion - G.R. Affidavit appication for Cornwall Inquiry standing and funding

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 G. R.

I, G. R., of the Town of St. Andrew's West, 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 thereinafter referred to as "Victims Group") who was sexually abused in the Cornwall area.

2. In 1968, at the age of ten, I was sexually abused by Father Lucien Lussier. This abuse continued for six 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. When the Church knew or ought to have known about the abuses committed by their priests, they had a duty to stop the continual abuse of other young victims.

b. The Church did not offer me any counselling or support. Had they offered intervention, my life would have been very different. I would not have spent my adult life crippled with guilt and shame.

Impact of the Abuse

5. As a result of the abuse, I could not concentrate in school and dropped out in Grade 9.

6. I developed behavioural problems as I struggled to cope with my guilt and shame. I began to abuse drugs and alcohol at the age of fourteen.

7. I was raised in a devout Catholic family. As a result of the abuse by a Catholic priest, I have lost total faith in my religion.

8. Due to my emotional trauma and lack of education, until recently, I have had great difficulty maintaining gainful employment.

9. I have an inability to trust others and, at times, cannot control my emotions.

10. The lack of an institutional response to the reports of abuse has strengthened my distrust in authority figures and institutions.

Failings of the Instiitutional Response

11. I verily believe that when the Diocese became aware of the sexual abuse committed by their priests, they failed to take any action.

12. No protection has been offered by the police or the church to the poor and uneducated victims.

13. 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.

14. 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

15. Currently, I am receiving limited psychological help in dealing with the abuse that I endured at the hands of Father Lucien Lussier.

16. I am currently not satisfied with the level of support that I am receiving. Many of the resources available are an out of pocket expense, available to the limited few.

17. I verily believe that victims of sexual abuse who struggle to deal with issues of trust should be able to seek individual counselling with qualified counsellors of their choosing.

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 am currently working as a residential painter. I earn $15 per hour, however, my hours fluctuate greatly. On average, I earn approximately $30,000 per year gross from painting, in addition to some nominal rental income. 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. G.R.