SQLFusion - Daniel MacNair Affidavit 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 DANIEL MCNAIR

I, DANIEL MCNAIR, 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 (hereinafter referred to as "Victims Group") who was sexually abused in the Cornwall area.

2. In 1967, at the age of fifteen, I was sexually abused by Father Charles MacDonald.

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. At no time did the Church offer me any support or counselling to deal with the consequences of the abuse.

b. When the Church knew or ought to have known about Father MacDonald's sexual misconduct, they should have stopped him from hurting other children.

Impact of the Abuse

5. I was raised in a family of devout Catholics. However, as a result of this sexual abuse, I have had a total loss of my Catholic faith.

6. I have lost the innocence of my childhood.

7. The abuse has rendered me unable to cope. I have turned to drugs and alcohol to help me deal with the effects of the abuse and have become addicted.

8. At the time of the abuse, I was suffocated by water and held in confined spaces and this has led to an ongoing fear of water and symptoms of claustrophobia.

9. The abuse has left me emotionally traumatized and I have been unable to maintain gainful employment. I have had to rely heavily on social assistance to get by.

10. The abuse has left me in emotional, physical and mental turmoil. This has resulted in an inability to develop meaningful relationships, particularly those of an intimate nature.

11. I have experienced a loss of enjoyment of life as I often find myself overwhelmed with feelings of depression and hopelessness.

Failings of the Institutional Response

12. The criminal charges against Father MacDonald were dismissed due to Charter violations.

13. 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 Charlie MacDonald.

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 not receiving psychological help in dealing with the abuse that I endured at the hands of Father Charles MacDonald.

17. I am not satisfied with the level of resources available to the victims of sexual abuse.

18. I verily believe that I require psychological support and counselling to help me deal with the emotional trauma I have suffered as a result of the abuse. However, currently I am not willing to seek treatment as I believe it would further traumatize me. I am not ready to face some of these issues that I have so desperately tried to move on from.

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.

20.1 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. As such, I am currently receiving benefits from Ontario Works in the monthly amount of $536.00. 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. Daniel MacNair