ROBERT RENSHAW (“Bobby”)

Bobby Renshaw alleges he was sexually abused by probation officer Ken Seguin and Father Charles MacDonald   

Affidavit for standing & funding at

the Cornwall Public Inquiry

Bobby’s 1997 Affidavit alleging sexual abuse by Father Charles MacDonald and Ken Seguin

IN THE MATTER OF THE PUBLIC INQUIRY INTO THE SURROUNDING THE ALLEGATIONS OF ABUSE OF YOUNG PEOPLE

IN CORNWALL, ONTARIO

AND

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR

STANDING AND

AFFIDAVIT OF ROBERT RENSHAW 

I, ROBERT RENSHAW, of the Village of Seeleys Bay, in the Township of Leeds and Thousand Islands, in the County of Leeds and Grenville, 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 1978 until 1990 from the age of fifteen to the age of twenty seven I was sexually abused by my probation officer Ken Sequin. In 1983, at the age of twenty, 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.

c.  The judicial system failed me and the other victims of Father MacDonald in that the criminal case against him was dismissed due to Charter violations. I find it decidedly unjust that the rights of a pedophile were protected when mine, as a victim, were violated.

d.  My probation officer, Ken Sequin died after the commencement of a police investigation. As a result I have little to say with regard to the institutional response on this matter.

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.  [theinquiry.ca note: This statement is factually incorrect.  Robert testified at the that he was not raised Catholic.  His mother who was Catholic died when he was very young.  His father was not Catholic and did not take the children to any church.  Bobby apparently signed the affidavit without noticing the error.] 

6.  I have lost the innocence of my childhood.
 
7.  This sexual abuse has left me with poor self-esteem. I am constantly overwhelmed with feelings of depression. I have in the past attempted suicide.

8.   Since the abuse and the failure of any form of institutional response, I have lost trust in authority figures and institutions. This has resulted in difficulties with the law.

9.   As a result of the abuse, I live in emotional, physical and mental turmoil. I have difficulties engaging in social activities and this has resulted in an inability to develop meaningful, intimate relationships.

10.  Due to my inability to cope with the abuse, I developed a propensity to engage in reckless behaviour. 

Failings of the Institutional Response 

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

12.  I am poorly educated and a low income wage earner as a result of the abuse and, as such, the police have treated me poorly. They have questioned my credibility and have failed me as a victim.
 
13.  Despite knowledge of the abuse, the Diocese of Alexandria-Cornwall has never offered to provide or fund counselling or support in my efforts to rehabilitate from the effects of the abuse.

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 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 support that I am currently receiving. This counselling is an out-of-pocket expense which I cannot afford to fund on my own.
 
18.  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. 19.

  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

20.  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.

21.  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.

22.  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.

23.  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 

24.  One of the devastating effects of my sexual abuse has been my inability to maintain gainful employment. I am currently working in automotive body repair industry as a labourer. I receive $1800.00 monthly gross 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 Village of Seeleys Bay, in the Township of Leeds and Thousand Islands, in the County of Leeds and Grenville this 3 day of November 2005.

A Commissioner, etc.                         Robert Renshaw
 

at the Cornwall Public Inquiry

 29 March 2007: False affidavit statements: Inquiry's credibility may suffer: lawyers

01 March 2007: Inquiry Cross-Examination Closely Monitored

27 February 2007: "God Bless Perry Dunlop" - Inquiry Witness

01 March 2007: Dunlop transcript gets aired  

28 February 2007: Alleged abuse shattered life of man