Leroux lied about Dunlop pressure: lawyer

Cornwall Standard Freeholder

04 October 2007

Posted By Terri Saunders

Ron Leroux has lied in the past about a lot of things, including being manipulated by former city cop Perry Dunlop, a lawyer for the Catholic church suggested Wednesday.

David Sherriff-Scott said Leroux made up stories to suit his own agenda which was to damage the reputations of innocent people.

Leroux was on the witness stand at the inquiry in June when he told the commission he had made up or embellished elements of statements he gave to authorities for two reasons: he was being pushed to do so by Dunlop and he was seeking revenge on individuals he says not only sexually abused him but other young men decades ago.

"I have things I wish to ask Mr. Dunlop about," Sherriff-Scott said. "But I believe he (Leroux) lied about what he says he told Mr. Dunlop."

Leroux completed his evidence in chief at the inquiry, but was at the start of cross-examination when the commission broke for the summer holiday at the beginning of July. When parties reconvened at The Weave Shed in August, lawyers for Leroux presented the commission with medical certificates indicating Leroux was mentally unfit to continue the cross-examination and that forcing him to do so would be detrimental his health.

In looking at Leroux's testimony in chief, an attorney for the Cornwall Police Service also suggested the man lied repeatedly, both at the inquiry and in the past, about seeing prominent people gathered together at various locations where children were being abused and where the attendants were aiding one another in covering up their actions.

John Callaghan said he would have spent quite a bit of time attempting to have Leroux explain why his story changed time and time again, as would have attorneys for other parties.

Lawyer Neil Kozloff said Leroux's testimony, particularly on one day in late June when Leroux recanted statements he'd made in the past about a purported pedophile ring and ritualistic sexual abuse, was important for the inquiry.

"The 28th of June 2007 was a very good day for Cornwall," Kozloff said.

It's not the first time a witness at the inquiry has left the stand before cross-examination was complete. In February, David Silmser was also granted leave from testifying when his lawyers presented similar medical evidence to the commission.

In relation to both Silmser's and Leroux's testimony, parties have been forced to address evidence in cross-examination by suggesting which areas they would have questioned the witness on and using supporting documents in suggesting elements of both men's testimony could be disproved. The inquiry will resume Oct. 9.