Aussie Church insurer ordered to produce abuse files

Tuesday, July 14th, 2015

The Catholic Church’s insurance company in Australia has been given until July 17 to produce almost 2000 files relating to child abuse.

On July, 10, Australia’s Royal Commission on Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse ordered Catholic Church Insurance (CCI) to produce the files.

CCI was ordered to provide a list of relevant material by yesterday and the files later in the week.

The royal commission held a special hearing when CCI failed to meet the deadline of a previous summons and produce all requested files.

It has handed over some folders.

The files could show exactly what the Church knew about 63 abusers in its ranks.

Counsel assisting the royal commission, Gail Furness, said the delay in getting the files was causing problems in the commission’s work.

She asked royal commission chairman Justice Peter McClellan to make a new order.

Justice McClellan said he was inclined towards making an order setting aside the previous summons and requiring CCI to hand over all files on child sex abuse claims.

Peter Gray, counsel representing CCI, said folders relating to 63 perpetrators about whom the commission had originally sought information could be provided in a week.

These folders would cover claims where there was “or might have been a prior knowledge issue”.

Justice McClellan said: “The commission needs the files in order to understand what the history, overall history has been in relation to denial of claims.”

It has been previously reported that CCI, which is wholly owned by the Catholic Church and has charity status, has set aside up to A$150 million to settle future child sex abuse claims.

Evidence at previous royal commission hearings has revealed that CCI had a role in capping payments to abuse survivors and in requiring deeds of release so the Church could not be sued.

Sources