Cornwall News AM 1220

September 05, 2008 — Would you believe a child if they told you they were abused? A veteran with the Children's Aid Society has told the Cornwall Public Inquiry there was a tendency not to believe children 30 years ago when they complained of abuse. Former CAS employee Angelo Towndale testified that in the 1970s, there was tendency to believe the adult. Documents suggest at least one local sex abuse allegation was not investigated because the child was known to lie frequently. Commissioner Normand Glaude asked Towndale if it was the same situation when there was possible physical evidence of sex abuse. Towndale admitted in those cases, allegations should have been looked at more seriously. Towndale did note that if the CAS suspected children were being abused in the 1970s, the children would be removed from the home but the police were not notified. Meanwhile, Towndale became emotional when he described the impact child abuse allegations had on him. He says it's really difficult to describe how he felt when he read CAS files before testifying at the inquiry. Towndale apologized to the children for his failures. Commissioner Normand Glaude offered words of comfort. (Hear audio clip below) Hearings continue Monday at 9:30.

[Transcript of audio clip:   

THE COMMISSIONER: … those matters were in the 1970s; that I am sure the community and the Children’s Aid Society have grown not only in size but in wisdom and knowledge as to what takes place. So I would just simply suggest to you not to be so hard on yourself, and we’ll deal with matters as we see fit. ]

Cornwall News AM 1220 

September 05, 2008 — His name is synonymous with the Children's Treatment Centre but he's in a different spotlight this week. Angelo Towndale is sharing with the Cornwall Public Inquiry his dealings with child abuse allegations while he worked for the Children's Aid Society. Towndale retired from the CAS after a 30 year career. On the stand, he recalled hearing of physical abuse allegations at a Second Street group home in the 1970s and a conversation that he had with one of that home's workers. (Hear Audio Clip Below.)Towndale admits that the employee was not fired and acknowledged that he even wrote a reference letter for the same employee years later because he saw a tremendous change in character. Hearings continue this morning at 9:30.

[Transcript of audio clip:    

MR. TOWNDALE: I told Bryan I feel sorry for these kids. I said to him, “I don’t treat my dog like those kids.” ]