I am at a loss for words. I truly am. Did someone put something in Ron Leroux’s water? Is he overmedicated to the point he doesn’t know what he’s saying and doesn’t remember from one minute to the next? I don’t know what’s going on, but something is seriously amiss. That certainly wasn’t the Ron Leroux I knew.
Truly, I watched in utter awe as Ron floundered his way through his first day on the stand. On one hand he said this now but on the other he said that 11 years ago. Then he said or implied Perry Dunlop and/or his lawyer must have put that in his statement because he, Ron, absolutely didn’t say that and wouldn’t have said it, but on the other when he gave a statement to this one that one and the other about witnessing a ritual where there were candles in altar boy’s bottoms he now says he actually never saw it all – he heard it from someone once upon a time and because he was angry he said he saw it!
And the scarce veiled animosity Ron now seems to have toward Perry Dunlop was a shocker. Ron doesn’t have to like Perry, and if there is a need to point out that Perry didn’t dot an “i” or cross a “t” that’s fair game. But the animus toward Perry Dunlop is foreign. Where did that come from? What prompted it?
Just by way of reminder, in the spring of 1999 Ron Leroux admitted to a CBC reporter that he was part of the paedophile ring. He admitted that he had sexually abused a young lad for years. Read the article, Breach of Trust. It’s posted on The Clan page – scroll down. This is the man who came back to Cornwall ready to take the stand and testify at any Project Truth trial knowing full well it would probably wind him in jail. He said wanted to clear his conscience.
Ron’s story about what he saw and heard and was prepared to testify were consistent for years. Now he takes the stand and we hear this jumble. And when questions are put to him he’s even asking Peter Engelmann if it’s alright for him to name certain individuals! Who is this?
I won’t detail any of Ron’s testimony to date – at the rate things are going it could change in the blink of an eye. Two of his statements are posted on his page. If you haven’t done so yet, take the time to read them. What’s in those is basically what he had to say for years. It seems that’s all changing now. In fact there were times today I got the distinct impression that Ron doesn’t seem to know what he’s saying or said. I’ll give one example: Ron now says Fathers Cameron and McDougald weren’t at Cameron’s Point the day he was allegedly molested by then Father Eugene Larocque. But I can tell you that I’ve personally heard him say they were. Now he says he absolutely never said that. What the heck is going on?
And he’s in there without a lawyer?
We’ll see what tomorrow brings….
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Note that Father Rene Dube died. May God have mercy on his soul. The Luc Bouchard who is saying his funeral Mass is Bishop Luc Bouchard of the Saint Paul Alberta Diocese, formerly of Cornwall.
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Hearings resume at 09:30 am. Ron Leroux’ examination in chief will continue.
Enough,
Sylvia
(cornwall@theinquiry.ca)
I was a bit aghast myself. My mind went to a few places. Perhaps things will be a bit clearer as his testimony goes along.
Panther
Ron Leroux “screwed up”, what?? No kidding!!!
Confusion, change of mind…appears to be “wasted, lost, different, changed person….ha!!!…what, no lawyer??? NO KIDDING!!!He’s lucky to be breathing. Don’t expect anything “straight” out of this guy for the rest of his life.
What is even more “criminal” so to speak, is that, believe it or not, someone actually encouraged Ron Leroux to give testimony….to appear at The Inquiry?
ALSO, can you believe, “The Inquiry” is actually allowing him to testify. Will The Inquiry “Pearheads” finally see, in this guy, the consequences, “effects” of victimization? I think not. This is truly, “The Twilight Zone”…and for what? Well, we all know, don’t we?
THE stench of ignorance, greed, self indulgence, personal notoriety and grandstanding, lingers about this Inquiry like the effects of a bad migrane…..and…..at the expence of unfortunate souls, such as Ron Leroux. …..the “dysfunctional”, handicapping, damaging effects caused by abuse, victimization, shame, guilt.
Confronting “the issues” openly and publicly is very important in a person’s recovery, but “you” can tell when someone is ready and healthy. Ron Leroux and others are NOT READY and are being brutally used; they are no way ready!!! This is disgusting.
And, yes Sylvia, there is John Swales. The man who wants to be “The Beacon” of hope for victims and survivors in Canada and internationally.
Is this the John Swales, who was “parachutted” in from London, Ontario by the Law Firm, Ledroit-Beckett to “SAVE” the “poor souls”?$$$$who were in chaos, fighting among themselves?$$$$
Is this the John Swales who advertised, conducted recruitment meetings in Cornwall motels/hotels(what went on in those meetings?), then swept-up “alleged victims” in Cornwall and elsewhere, for delivery to, “The Firm”?$$$$$
Is this the John Swales who presented documentations to the “alleged victims” and didn’t guarantee the alleged victims read or understood the documents? Is this the John Swales who didn’t stop the “alleged victims” from signing a document they didn’t read or understand, some of which were in fact and in part, factual errors? $$$$ (Oh yes, dear Commissioner Glaude, you “Ordered” Ledroit-Beckett to correct and check all affidavits, thereafter, to report back to you….So, what’s happened Commish? You sure have a lot of “unsettled” Orders, requests, issues, don’t you?).
Is this the same John Swales who had $$$$ arguments with Law Firm #1 and after solicitation from a competing Law Firm, “jumped on board” with that Law Firm #2 $$$$$
Did John Swales take any clients from one firm to the other? Does John Swales get a “finders fee”? Does John Swales get a percentage of “settlements” that are negotiated by the Law Firm, surrounding clients John recruited? Does he give a percentage to the “recruited”?
One of the first few things a Law Firm tells a client is to “lay low”, “keep quiet” and “speak only to a few associates, no one else”.
Who/what is really the problem here? Greed? Lawyers? Self____?
Finally: re: London, Ontario Diocese, Ledroit-Beckett. The “paper” suggests Clergy can return to regular duties, unless found guilty, criminally. HA!!! HA!!! HA!!! Get real, it is my expressed opinion that, with Ledroit-Beckett et al around, no one will ever be convicted…..”settlement out of court”, “publication ban, secrecy”…..DO WE UNDERSTAND PEOPLE?? $$$$$
Everyone involved is getting a HUGE PIECE OF THE PROVERBIAL PIE and the rubbish will be tossed out when the show is over.
We’ll see if God issues a publication ban on JUDGEMENT DAY.
Oh, is no one outraged over the Attorney General’s Office issuing the press release protecting Murray…during a witnesses ongoing testimony? I mean, could any of us get away with it???
Is no one outraged about the publication ban on the Cornwall Area sexual pervert who was recently jailed for five years. NOT A WORD – for how many years? What was this guy doing between the time he pleaded guilty in 2005 and the time he was sentenced?
Is the above in the better interests of society? WHAT makes us WANT to trust the JUSTICE SYSTEM in Ontario???
You’ve eloquently – and passionatley! – said so much of what’s on my mind and in my heart prima facie – and then some 🙂
Yes, the sad plight and sorry use and abuse of victims. As I am prone at times to blog and much more frequently muse, when the inquiry folds it’s tents and silently steals away the mop up job will massive. All the dollars pouring in to Cornwall courtesy of Dalton McGuinty and all the idle chatter of community “renewal” and all the heads buried collectivley and deeply in the see-no-evil-hear-no-evil-speak-no-evil-sand won’t put Humpty Dumpty back together again.
Sylvia
I would like to know. Is the new Ron Leroux being challenged by the lawyers at the weave shed about everything in his new testimony that is at variance with his affidavit? Is he being made to look like a liar for changing his story or is new new sanitized version automatically accepted as true? To answer one question posed by Prima Facie there is no publication ban on judgement day. Everything that is hidden will be shouted from the housetops. Those who rely on secrecy in this life for respectability will be exposed for what they really are.