2 DAYS TO FREEDOM DAY: 04 October 2008.
Time served behind bars for caring about children and losing faith in the administration of justice:
229 days
Perry served a six month sentence for civil contempt of court!!! He is now serving an additional 30 day sentence for criminal contempt of court. No early release. Unlike other inmates Perry will serve every single day.
This is the institutional response to allegations of childhood sexual abuse.
****
Perry update.
Perry will leave the detention centre quietly in the company of his dear wife. His re-entry into the outside world will be a private moment. No fuss. No fanfare. Just Perry and Helen. They will head off for some quiet time together. There will be a time for those who want to shake Perry’s hand or give him a hug to do so. For now, it’s Perry and Helen.
I realize people will be disappointed. I for one on the one hand I would dearly love to have been there to see Perry walk through that gate at OCDC. On the other hand I think I may have felt a little of a voyeur. Those first moments together for Perry and Helen will be extremely emotional. They need their privacy.
We will have our time. Have no fear. We will have a chance to give Perry a hero’s welcome. Meanwhile keep the Dunlop family in your prayers, and picture that glorious moment of Perry’s walk to freedom and into Helen’s open arms in your mind’s eye :).
I popped in to see Perry yesterday. My last trip to OCDC! I believe I sensed a degree of unspoken trepidation on Perry’s part. He tells me these last few days behind bars seem like the worst. But he is well, holding his own, and doing the countdown. He had another visitor – a friend he hadn’t seen for some time. A good visiting day for Perry. His second last.
One more Friday. And part of Saturday. That’s it! Freedom! Two short short days away!!!
As the clock ticks down Perry keeps watch on the outdoors. The squirrels scuttling around the yard and garbage cans keep busy. Yesterday something new. Seems racoons must have been playing havoc with the garbage. Someone set out a live trap and, lo and behold, one raccoon in captivity.
The raccoon was released elsewhere. Back went the trap with bait. The squirrels are sharp. They skuttle about the trap, peer inside, freeze, meditate, and away they go. They don’t venture inside the trap!
And CAS is gone. I believe the poor soul is receiving the help he so desperately needs.
Helen flew in yesterday. This time she really will be leaving with Perry at her side.
It’s all bitter-sweet isn’t it?
Many are asking is this the end of it? Will “they” leave Perry and his family alone? I wish I knew. My gut is yes, they will leave him alone. After the furious back-peddaling which saw the original Glaude/Attorney General demand for about 15 further months incarceration get whittled down to one month I think, for reasons as yet unknown, they’re going to leave him alone. And lead commission counsel Peter Engelmann has publicly stated that there will be no more charges which I would trust, hope and assume means there will be notice notice of misconduct.
****
Perseverance in the face of adversity does pay.
A message of encouragement from Tor Nielson in Australia, reprinted with permission:
Hi, I would like to encourage you to keep fighting with your cause.
My name is Tor Nielsen I have just exposed a p/ring in Australia it has taken me 6 years of complaining to get the authorities to act, I complained so much that I was locked up in a mental hospital and put on drugs.
In the end I made leaflets and handed them out in the street to get the public’s interest and the police have arrested 3 priests so far.
I have met a lot of opposition from professionals such as Doctors, lawyers, Police and of course the Church who were way to willing to Cover up my claims and write me off as a mental case.
I have given up so many times and just in the last month I have had a lot of success in exposing the criminals.
The Police have laid 125 charges on 3 men and expect to lay another 100 charges relating to 13 victims.
The police say that there is another 40 victims yet to make statements and they intend serve over 100 witness statements as evidence.
Like America I was fortunate enough to get a papal apology here in Australia. I did notice that here and in America the rate of victims coming forward increased.
Push your Media to ask for a Papal apology to help you chip away at the corruption.
I wish you all the success that you deserve and I would like you to know that I will be promoting your cause on my website to help you raise awareness.
Brother in Arms
..:TOR:..
An all too familiar story. A great website. Be sure to check it out.
Well done Tor. Stay strong. Our prayers are with you.
****
The “homophobia” workshop was last night. No media coverage that I can see as yet. I am most interested. Gay rights politics aside I can not for the life of me conceive how “homophobia” has anything to do with the inquiry mandate, namely the institutional response to “allegations of historical abuse of young people in the Cornwall area.”
Interesting that panellist Bruce Ryder was a vocal advocate for same sex marriage. So was the commission’s former and first media relations staffer Marie Josee Lapointe. Wonder if perchance Lapointe and Ryder know each other?
I wonder how many of the panellists at this “homophobia” forum advocated for same sex marriage?
****
Interesting information on Donald Grecco,alleged clerical molester turned counsellor and brother of Toronto’s Auxiliary Bishop Richard Grecco. Keep an eye to see how it all unfolds.
Enough for now
Sylvia
I have to agree with Perry and Helen’s plan for a quiet exit…can you imagine how Perry would feel being bombarded with people (well wishers) of course after 230 days of solitary confinement? As I’ve stated before, we will respect their privacy, I just hope the media shows the same common sense (not likely)…
Yes, I will go onto Tor’s website…he sounds like a very brave person to ‘blow the whistle’ on yet another scummy scenario regarding yet another clan of perverted creeps…having trouble watching my language regarding these scumbags of society.
Perry and Helen…there will be champaign waiting for you when you are ready to board our vessel…love to you both.
Shirley
Oh my two more sleeps, it is like waiting for SANTA…I’m so excited!!! Enjoy your time together Helen and Perry(winkle) we can wait a few more days!!!! (if we have to) 🙂
Laurie and Shawna
Great work Perry you have done the city of Cornwall proud even thought you have many detractors. My hero.
Brian
Are you aware of this ruling???
http://scc.lexum.umontreal.ca/en/2008/2008scc53/2008scc53.html
This recent Supreme Court ruling is VERY SIGNIFICANT in historical abuse cases – Leaves the question as to…How is Glaude et al. going to apply it to what they have heard at the Cornwall Public Inquiry and a final report.
I wouldn’t count on the media staying away, but I understand what they’re doing. The fact is a lot of people want to read the story of his release and see the photos. Even those who would prefer it happen quietly will likely watch the evening news and scour the next days papers to see if there was a story or a photo.
I don’t think we have to worry too much about Helen and Perry making a reasonable departure. Seeing a group of reporters and cameras in front of them is nothing new and they’ll make their way through them as they always have and then head somewhere quiet.
The thing about OCDC is I believe Helen will be permitted to drive inside the fence to pick him up so if they are in a vehicle with the windows up, they should be able to get out of there okay. If there is going to be media, I’m pretty sure the group will be no larger than what assembles at the Weave Shed whenever Perry shows up.
I’ll be thinking of them tomorrow.
I have said it before (and it’s only my opinion) I do not think it wise for Perry and Helen to be dealing or expressing opinion/statements to the media tomorrow!!!Doesn’t matter how small/large of a group of reporters/cameramen show up. Doesn’t matter how many people want to read the story and see pictures of his release. Perry has been holed up for 230 days. The FIRST PERSON he needs to be with is his WIFE – NOT THE PUBLIC OR THE PRESS!!!
I am sure he will give a statement or talk to reporters when he is ready…Remember he has a FAMILY first and foremost to deal with!!!They come first!!!
AMEN to your last post Reality Checker….I agree 100 percent!
Shirley
Our steps will fall lighter tomorrow knowing Perry will leave the OCDC. Helen and Perry, our thoughts and prayers are with you and we can’t wait to have you back safely in our valley! Enjoy your quiet time these next few days and the special days to follow with the girls. We truly have much to celebrate and be thankful for this Thanksgiving! Here’s to you, dear friends!
Ann & Peter
The VULTURES and SPIN has already started by the Canadian Press!!!
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2008/10/03/6968686-cp.html
There is no point fighting this at this time – CP is going to snowball Perry no matter what.
Question – has CP ever done a personal interview with Perry Dunlop??? Before – during incarceration or after???
Answer – Nope!!!So where’s the info coming from??? Obviously not from the target.
…and I really don’t think CP is going to get that much anticipated interview either!!!
BE WISE!!!
I’m not suggesting Perry or Helen speak to the media at all. I’m just pointing out the fact the media IS going to show up whether or not people think they should stay away.
Public appetite for news about this event will drive the media to go there. All I was saying was Perry and Helen know how to make their way through a group of media as they’ve done it before. My hope is they get out of there and away from everyone as quick as they can.
Reality Checker, I’m not sure it’s appropriate for you to use all capital letters as much as you do sometimes. I know you are passionate about your opinion, but I don’t think it’s necessary to write something in such a way as to appear as if you’ve raised your voice.
I am as entitled to my opinion as much as anyone else who participates in Sylvia’s blog and I care a great deal for Perry and Helen and their daughters. I have sat with them and cried with them and laughed with them more times than I can count. I was simply pointing out the fact the media are likely going to show up. I never once suggested Perry and Helen conduct any interviews.
Oh, and to prove my point that the media is already planning on being there, Canadian Press released this story a couple of hours ago …
Ex-cop who refused to testify at child-abuse probe slated for release Saturday
1 hour ago
OTTAWA — A former police officer jailed for refusing to testify before a public inquiry into child-sex abuse in eastern Ontario is slated for release from his Ottawa cell on Saturday.
Perry Dunlop has spent seven months in custody on civil and criminal contempt charges. Dunlop was instrumental in sparking the judicial inquiry looking at how allegations of a sexual abuse in the Cornwall, Ont., area were handled in the 1990s.
Despite his key role, he refused to testify despite repeated requests and court orders he do so, saying he had lost faith in the justice system.
He was arrested at his home in Duncan, B.C., in February amid a blaze of orchestrated publicity.
Supporters say he is the victim of a system determined to cover up a pedophile ring.
In September, Dunlop was sentenced to 30 days in jail for criminal contempt of court after having served six months for civil contempt. He told the court he meant no disrespect by ignoring the judge’s order and only had issue with the Cornwall Public Inquiry.
Had Dunlop reversed his decision while serving the six-month term and agreed to give evidence at the inquiry, he could have been released. The sentence for the criminal conviction did not carry that option, and Dunlop was compelled to serve the full 30 days.
Dunlop began looking into an alleged pedophile ring that supposedly involved senior civic officials, clergymen and police officers on his own time in 1993.
A provincial police investigation led to 114 charges against 15 men, but resulted in only one conviction.
Despite Dunlop’s vehement claims, “Project Truth” found no evidence of an organized sex abuse ring.
I am sorry if I offend you the way I type – post – or express my views. I captitalize to emphasize my point- it`s my way of expression. I did not realize I was not aloud to express myself in the manner I feel most comfortable with on Sylvia`s blog. No one ever complained until NOW!
My apologies!!!
I don’t think anyone meant to offend. Emotions are running high for all. One and all have nothing but Perry and Helen’s best interests at heart.