09 October 2008

A former CAS employee told the Cornwall Public Inquiry he could barely remember a young woman who was allegedly abused while in the agency's care.

From 1972 until 1980, Bryan Keough was the social worker responsible for Roberta Archambault, who had first been placed in the care of the CAS as a five-year-old in 1970.

When Archambault testified at the inquiry in November 2006, she said she first disclosed the mental and physical abuse she allegedly suffered at the hands of her Cornwall foster parents to Keough in 1980.

Archambault was removed from the home shortly afterwards.

Now a pastor in western Canada, Keough, 59, took the stand himself late Tuesday afternoon. His reports during that eight-year span tracked the gradually disintegrating relationship between Archambault and her foster family.

Despite visiting with the family approximately every three months, Keough said he only had vague memories of Archambault as "a small girl."

He said he definitely had no memory of any abuse revelations.

"If she had (told me), that would be in my notes," said Keough.

 Keough is scheduled to return to the stand at 9:30 a. m.