SQLFusion - CAS concluded priest molested David Silmser

David Silmser

David Silmser was “allegedly” sexually molested by Father Charles MacDonald and probation officer Ken Seguin, an ex-seminarian. He was also molested by Marcel Lalonde, a Roman Catholic school teacher.

Transcripts of David Silmser testimony at Corwall Public Inquiry: 30 January 2007 ; 31 January 2007 ; 01 February 2007 ; 05 February 2007; 06 February 2007 ; 07 February 2008 ; 28 March 2007; 17 April 2007; 18 April 2007 ; 19 April 2008;

MUST READ!

22 March 2007: David Silmser Letter to Justice Normand Glaude (hand-delivered to the Weave Shed Monday morning, 26 March 2007) (this is a Word document)

26 March 2007: Commission Counsel Peter Engelmann email to Clint Culic (David Silmser's lawyer) in response to David Silmser's letter addressed to Justice Normand Glaude. (This is a Word document)

28 March 2007: Lawyers’ Response at the Weave Shed to David Silmser’s letter to Justice Normand Glaude

29 March 2007: Justice Normand Glaude ruling on merit of David Silmser letter

01 February 2007: The Incident at the Weave Shed (Thursday )

14 February 2007: Lead commission counsel Peter Engelmann letter to all parties re complaints re cross-examination

Background

David (Dave) Silmser reported to the Cornwall Police Service that he was sexually abused by Father Charles MacDonald, probation officer Ken Seguin and school teacher Marcel Lalonde.

Nine months and no charges later the diocese of Alexandria-Cornwall, then under the helm of Bishop Eugene Larocque, and Father Charles MacDonald hushed Dave with a $32,000 out-of court settlement. The settlement was found to contain an illegal cause which mandated Dave to tell Cornwall police he not want to pursue criminal charges against Father Charles MacDonald. The $32,000 was held in escrow until that was accomplished.

This was the first sign of cover-up.

Father Charles MacDonald’s lawyer, Malcolm MacDonald, was eventually charged with obstruction of justice, pled guilty and received an absolute

discharge from Judge B. W. Lennox.

Malcolm MacDonald died before standing trial on a number of sex abuse charges.

Jacques Leduc, the lawyer for the diocese in negotiating the pay-off, went to trial on sexual abuse charges. His first trial was a travesty of justice: it ended in a stay. An appeal sent him back to trial. At his second trial he claimed his right to a speedy trial had been violated. Justice W. Dan Chilcott agreed. Leduc “walked.”

The seeds of the Cornwall scandal are rooted first in Dave Silmser’s sex abuse allegations and then in the subsequent actions of former Constable Perry Dunlop.

When he discovered that his force, the Cornwall Police Service, was no longer investigating Silmer's complaint and that Silmser had been paid off Dunlop fulfilled his legal obligation to protect children by giving a copy of David Silmser's victim statement to the Children's Aid Society..

TRANSCRIPTS

19 April 2007: David Silmser transcript of testimony at Cornwall Public Inquiry

18 April 2007: David Silmser transcript of testimony at Cornwall Public Inquiry

17 April 2007: David Silmser transcript of testimony at Cornwall Public Inquiry

28 March 2007: David Silmser transcript of testimony at Cornwall Public Inquiry

28 February 2007: David Silmser transcript of testimony at Cornwall Public Inquiry

07 February 2007: David Silmser transcript of testimony at Cornwall Public Inquiry

06 February 2007: David Silmser transcript of testimony at Cornwall Public Inquiry

05 February 2007: David Silmser transcript of testimony at Cornwall Public Inquiry

01 February 2007: David Silmser transcript of testimony at Cornwall Public Inquiry

31 January 2007: David Silmser transcript of testimony at Cornwall Public Inquiry

30 January 2007: David Silmser transcript of testimony at Cornwall Public Inquiry

29 January 2007: David Silmser transcript of testimony at Cornwall Public Inquiry

Documents and Early Media Coverage

09 December 1992: Sgt. S. Nakic Memo re David Silmser call to Cornwall police to report sex abuse allegations.

11 December 1992: Father Peter Schonenbach letter to Msgr. Don McDougald re his meet with David Silmser who “seems like a credible person.”

21 December 1992: Malcolm MacDonald letter to Msgr. McDougald

Undated: Father Denis Vaillancourt recap of 09 February 1993 meeting between himself, Jacques Leduc and Dave Silmser.

February 1993: David Silmser Victim Statement

(The last line on several pages of the above hand-written statement is unfortunately cut off. I am trying to find my copy of the text version to post.)

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The Pay-Off

02 September 1993: Full Release and Undertaking not to Disclose, the infamous illegal $32,000 pay-off (According to Silmser $10,000 was paid by the diocese, $10,000 by Father Charles MacDonald, and $12,000 by insurance) SIN number has been redacted.

02 September 1993: Certificate of Independent Legal Advice, statement of Sean Adams signed by David Silmser that Adams has explained the contents of the Full Release and Undertaking Not to Disclose to Silmser and that Silmser understands. (Silmser has testified that he later paid Adams $400 cash)

02 September 1993: Malcolm MacDonald letter to Sean Adams re cheque for $32,000 to be held in escrow until David Silmser advises police he does not want to proceed with charges.

03 September 1993: Malcolm MacDonald (lawyer for Father Charles MacDonald) letter to Det. Sgt. Luc Brunet (Cornwall police) containing copy of Certificate of Independent Legal Advice “prepared by Sean Adams, solicitor for David Silmser, and signed by David Silmser)

09 September 1993: Lucien Brunet to Murray MacDonald

14 September 1993: Crown attorney Murray MacDonald reply to Lucien Brunet.

29 September 1993: David Silmser hand-written note telling Cornwall police “I wish that this matter against Charles MacDonald be close.”

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11 January 1994: PRESS RELEASE - Police Board Account: Incident involving alleged sexual assault. Release signed by Leo Courville, chairman of the Board. (Whether by accident or design the chronology of events in the press release omits, misrepresents and/or provides erroneous information regarding the "investigation" of the David Silmser sex abuse allegations against Father Charles MacDonald and probation officer Ken Seguin. In addition, despite the fact that various documents indicate that by 11 January '94 the CPS had conducted an investigation of Perry Dunlop's actions and concluded no discipline would be imposed the press release implies otherwise. Indeed it (1) very publicly casts the actions of Perry in a negative light, (2) directly or indirectly implies that his actions are at the heart of "all" outstanding isues which demand resolution, and (3) directly or indirectly invites David Silmser to file a complaint against Perry Dunlop.)

14 January 1994: Statement of Bishop Eugene Larocque assuring that there is no attempt at cover-up.

21 February 1994: CPS Public complaint form referencing public complaint filed 21 January 1994 by David Silmser against Heidi Sebalj

Click here for several relevant media articles commencing 07 January 1994.

01 March 1994: Children’s Aid Society to Father Charles MacDonald advising that CAS investigation has concluded he did sexually molest David Silmser.

31 August 1994: Dr. John Bradford Affidavit - says based on David Silmser's victim statment there were reasonable grounds to believe at the time that other children were currently being molested.

14 August 1996: David Silmser/Carson Chisholm - Dave clarifies some issues and provides a few important details

30 November 1996: David Silmser handwritten statement re sex abuse allegations against Roman Catholic school teacher Marcel Lalondel

07 April 2000: Constable Perry Dunlop Will State (his official account of events). For the time being I have posted only the first 25 pages. Several pages unfortunately are missing. If and when I come across them they will be incorporated.

Media Coverage at the Cornwall Public Inquiry

05 February 2009: Silence is deafening: Perry Dunlop Could Have Been The Star Attraction At The Inquiry