Victims
blast Toowoomba principals
They
failed to take action on dangerous child predator
SNAP wants
them to personally do outreach to victims
And they
want to know where the principals are now
WHAT
Holding
signs and childhood photos at a footpath news conference, clergy sex abuse victims and their
supporters will
- demand
information on two principals who knew of abuse allegations against a Toowoomba
tennis coach and did nothing, and
- urge the
principals to personally reach out to victims of the coach and beg others who
may have seen or suspected his crimes to come forward to police
WHEN
Wednesday November 28 at
2:15 p.m.
WHERE
On
the footpath in front of Toowoomba District Office of Department of Education
Training and Employment, 178 Hume Street, Toowomba
WHO
One or two members of an international support group called SNAP (the
Survivors Network of those Abused by Priest) including an American woman who is
the organisations president and founder.
WHY
Parents of
children abused over the course of five years by a tennis coach in Toowoomba
have recently found out that two different principals were aware of the coach’s
impropriety, but did not warn parents or students. Now, leaders of an
international support group for victims of abuse are demanding
answers.
Leaders of
SNAP are asking that Education Queensland come forward and explain why these
principals were apparently not disciplined for their inaction involving this
74-year-old tennis coach who has been charged with abusing four children between
2004 and 2009. The tennis coach, who has gone unnamed in media reports, is
apparently from Rangeville and abused four girls aged between nine and
12.
According
to a recent article in the Chronicle, two different principals had conversations
with the tennis coach about his “inappropriate behavior,” but neither warned
police or parents about the man. Apparently, one of the principals no longer
works at the same school.
SNAP wants some
accountability for these principals. They should
explain what they knew, when they knew it, and why it went
unreported.
Parents in
Toowoomba are upset that the principals in the case have gotten away with
avoiding explanations and punishments. SNAP is echoing that
sentiment.
“It’s
simply not right that the people at the top are able to escape scot free when
they had a hand in these young girls being abused,” said Blaine. “There’s a loss
of innocence here that cannot be replaced, but these principals get to carry on
like nothing happened.”
http://www.thechronicle.com.au/news/parents-blast-principals-over-handling-of-sex-abus/1629487/
http://www.thechronicle.com.au/news/man-on-child-sex-charges/377778/
CONTACT
Barbara Blaine, SNAP President and
Founder (+1 312 399 4747, bblaine@snapnetwork.org)
Nicky Davis, SNAP
Australia Leader (0422 538 440, nicky@nickydavis.com.au)
Mark Fabbro, SNAP Australia Leader (0411 390 850, survivorsclergy@gmail.com)