Witness says he intentionally misled investigators in 90s

Cornwall Standard Freeholder 

Tuesday, June 26, 2007 - 08:00  

Terri Saunders

News from across S, D and G - A witness at the Cornwall Public Inquiry admitted Monday he misled sexual abuse investigators in the 1990s because he didn't trust cops.

Gerald Renshaw has testified he didn't have much confidence in police officers and Monday said he felt that way about members of the OPP's Project Truth team who interviewed him in 1997.

"I didn't have much faith in . . . Project Truth," Renshaw said.

Renshaw said it was for this reason he wasn't forthcoming with investigators about the abuse he says he suffered at the hands of Ken Seguin, a city probation officer who committed suicide in 1994. In a statement signed by Renshaw he qualifies the type of person he believed Seguin to be, going so far as to praise the man's professionalism.

"I couldn't ask for a better probation officer," the statement reads. "He was very understanding."

During cross-examination, a lawyer for the Cornwall Community Police Service suggested Renshaw's statement wasn't truthful.

"So, you didn't tell the OPP the truth about Ken Seguin?" asked Peter Manderville.

"Correct," said Renshaw.

"And (it was because) you have a general disdain for police officers?" asked Manderville.

"I have friends who are police officers," said Renshaw. "So obviously I don't hate all of them."

Earlier in the day, a church lawyer suggested Renshaw also made up stories about having seen prominent men in the company of suspected child abusers.

David Sherriff-Scott, an attorney representing the Alexandria-Cornwall Roman Catholic Diocese, suggested Renshaw has not been telling the truth about having seen priests, police officers and businessmen at a house owned by a probation officer and a cottage owned by a Crown attorney.

Renshaw testified last week he saw many well-known men at Seguin's house in Summerstown and at Malcolm MacDonald's cottage on Stanley Island in the 1980s and 1990s.

Sherriff-Scott told Renshaw several area priests identified by Renshaw in the past as having attended one or both locations denied the allegations when questioned by investigators in 1998.

"Did you expect them to say they were there?" Renshaw asked Sherriff-Scott.

"I expect them to have to have told the truth," said Sherriff-Scott. "I expect that you are not."

"Well," said Renshaw, "I am."

Manderville said Renshaw's allegations he saw former city police chief Claude Shaver at the two locations have been categorically denied.

"He (Shaver) has said he never knew Ken Seguin and he's never been to his house nor to Malcolm MacDonald's cottage," said Manderville. "He would say your statements are malicious and that you are a liar."

"That's about what I'd expect to hear," said Renshaw.

Manderville suggested Renshaw was encouraged to make the statements about Shaver and another police officer, Stuart MacDonald, by former city cop Perry Dunlop in order to bolster Dunlop's multi-million-dollar civil suit against the force. Renshaw denied he was ever encouraged by Dunlop to make such statements.

Sherriff-Scott also questioned Renshaw about his spiritual upbringing.

"You weren't raised a Catholic?" asked Sherriff-Scott.

"I wouldn't want to have been," said Renshaw, who suggested he didn't have to be a Catholic in order to recognize priests living in the community.

"I've known priests before. I have friends that are Catholic. I would have known some of them."

Sherriff-Scott also suggested Renshaw's allegations he saw Rev. Kevin Maloney, former Bishop Eugene LaRocque or Rev. Gary Ostler anywhere near the two locations in question are false.

"That's your belief," said Renshaw.

Following Renshaw's cross-examination, his lawyer pointed Comm. Normand Glaude to a story published in the Standard-Freeholder June 22 in which a spokesperson for the Ministry of the Attorney General defended local Crown attorney Murray MacDonald whom Renshaw claims he also saw at the two locations.

Dallas Lee raised concerns about a party with a standing at the inquiry speaking to the media about evidence, particularly in the middle of cross-examination of a witness.

"Things like this in a newspaper present a real risk of interfering with the ability of this witness to tell his story," said Lee.

Glaude didn't appear impressed with the fact the ministry spoke directly to Renshaw's allegations outside the hearings room.

"I'm saddened by the manner in which parties here are insistent on having some aspects of this played out in the media," said Glaude. "(Everyone) should wait until the end of the inquiry to see what the (outcome) will be."

The inquiry continues today.