Brethren allegations investigation

Exclusive Brethren PR man Tony McCorkell

(Three News)

Three News

April 20 2007; 12:26

Police confirm Brethren sexual abuse investigation

Nelson police have confirmed that they are investigating three historic complaints of sexual abuse by a senior member of the Exclusive Brethren.
Police say the complaints made by three women involve allegations of child molestation over four decades.
The offending is alleged to have taken place between the early 1950s and early 1980s.
Police say they have not yet spoken to the man and are unsure if he is a current or former member of the Exclusive Brethren.





One News

April 20 2007

Brethren abuse claims investigated

Police have confirmed a senior member of the Exclusive Brethren church is under investigation after claims he has been sexually abusing children for decades, despite a spokesperson for the church denying all knowledge when the claims were publicised.
Following a six-month ONE News investigation, it was revealed on Thursday that four women, all former members of the church, laid complaints against the man, claiming they were abused when they were aged between five and 10.
The alleged abuse stretches back decades. The eldest complainant is now 61 years old, and the youngest in her mid 20s.
Neither the man nor the house where he allegedly sexually abused a six-year-old girl can be identified, but police say they are investigating the senior member.
"These are serious allegations of sexual...of course we're interested in the activities of a person we're investigating, just like any offence. They could still be committing offences," says Superintendent Grant O'Fee.
The police investigation was launched five weeks ago. So far two of the four complainants have been interviewed.
As the alleged abuse stretches back 40 years, police say they will need co-operation from those inside the secretive church.
"We will have discussions with the church I'm sure as the inquiry unfolds, but as yet that's not an issue for us," says O'Fee.
In a ONE News interview on Thursday, the Exclusive Brethren officially denied any knowledge of the abuse claims. The church's Australia based spokesperson Tony McCorkell, who is currently in New Zealand, said he was "not aware" of the allegations.
However, after McCorkell asked the cameras to stop rolling, he admitted he had just come from a meeting where the sexual abuse claims were discussed - and said "I haven't even formulated my opinion on it yet".
On Friday, the Exclusive Brethren attempted to discredit the ONE News story.
"I feel it's a trial by media. I think Mr Tornquist from ONE News has done a hatchet job on the Brethren. I'm disappointed. I'm very disappointed and would urge the members of the public not to react to this issue," says McCorkell.
However, O'Fee is asking anyone with knowledge of abuse within the church to contact police
"If they think or they have information about people that were abused, or if they were abused...this may go back 40 years ago, we would like to speak to those people and we would urge them to come forward and to bring their stories to us".





Radio NZ

April 20 2007; 16:57

Police investigate sex abuse claims involving former Exclusive Brethren members

Police in Nelson have confirmed they are investigating claims of sexual abuse involving former members of the Exclusive Brethren church.
They say the allegations are serious and date back up to 40 years, to when some of the victims were under 10.
Superintendent Grant O'Fee says there are four female complainants - all of whom have now left the church.
Mr O'Fee says he believes the man involved has also left the church.
He says police have not yet spoken to the man allegedly involved and the investigation is in its early stages. He is urging any other victims to come forward.
A spokesperson for the Exclusive Brethren says the church will cooperate with the police investigation.
Tony McCorkell says the accused is an elderly member of the church.





Newswire

April 20 2007; 15:15

Exclusive Brethren link to abuse claims

Police in Nelson have confirmed they are investigating claims of sexual abuse involving former members of the Exclusive Brethren church.
They say the allegations are very serious and date back up to 40 years to when some of the victims were under the age of 10.
Superintendent Grant O'Fee says there are four female complainants. All have now left the church.
Superintendent O'Fee says he believes the man involved has also left the church.
He says police have not yet spoken with the man allegedly involved and the investigation is in its early stages.
He is urging any other victims to come forward.




Stuff

April 20 2007; (Updated Report)

Brethren sex abuse claims being investigated by police

Nelson police are investigating complaints from three former Exclusive Brethren women alledging they were sexually abused by a reportedly senior member of the secret religious sect when they were children.
A police spokeswoman said today the complaints involved allegations of child molestation over four decades.
The offending is alleged to have taken place between the early 1950s and early 1980s.
The spokeswoman said police had not yet spoken to the man and were unsure if he was a current or former member of the Exclusive Brethren.
The spokeswoman said the investigation was in its early stages and it could be some time before police decided if charges would be laid.
A fourth woman is understood to be making a complaint against the man in Auckland.
Television One News alleged last night the church's Australia-based spokesman, Tony McCorkell, currently in New Zealand, was investigating the claims – although he denied that when interviewed by the channel yesterday. Asked what the church was doing about the sexual abuse allegations, he replied: "I'm not aware of that. If you have evidence of that I'd be glad to see it."
Mr McCorkell said the church would never try to cover up such allegations.
But TV One said two of the women, former members of the sect, had told church leaders about the abuse at the time it happened and were ignored.
One woman, who was not identified, said she believed there had been "multiple offenders".
"If I went and asked them now they would try and deny it because in there it's a huge guilt and fear thing," she said.
"A lot of people who perhaps have been involved in that sort of thing would not go outside the church for help."
TV One reported that the complainants believed children could have been molested as recently as last year.
It said the women had not known of each other's cases until recently, and came forward following previous reports of sexual abuse.
The network said the women – aged between the early 20s and 61 – claimed they were abused by the man when they were aged between five and 10.









NZ Herald

April 20 2007; 12:10

Police probe Brethren sex abuse claims

Police are investigating claims from three women that they were sexually abused by a reportedly senior member of the Exclusive Brethren sect when they were children.
A police spokeswoman said today the complaints involved allegations of child molestation over four decades.
The offending is alleged to have taken place between the early 1950s and early 1980s.
The spokeswoman said police had not yet spoken to the man and were unsure if he was a current or former member of the Exclusive Brethren.
The spokeswoman said the investigation was in its early stages and it could be some time before police decided if charges would be laid.
A fourth woman is understood to be making a complaint against the man in Auckland.
Television One News alleged last night the church's Australia-based spokesman, Tony McCorkell, currently in New Zealand, was investigating the claims -- although he denied that when interviewed by the channel yesterday.
Asked what the church was doing about the sexual abuse allegations, he replied: "I'm not aware of that. If you have evidence of that I'd be glad to see it."
Mr McCorkell said the church would never try to cover up such allegations.
But TV One said two of the women, former members of the sect, had told church leaders about the abuse at the time it happened and were ignored.
One woman, who was not identified, said she believed there had been "multiple offenders".
"If I went and asked them now they would try and deny it because in there it's a huge guilt and fear thing," she said.
"A lot of people who perhaps have been involved in that sort of thing would not go outside the church for help."
TV One reported that the complainants believed children could have been molested as recently as last year.
It said the women had not known of each other's cases until recently, and came forward following previous reports of sexual abuse.
The network said the women -- aged between the early 20s and 61 -- claimed they were abused by the man when they were aged between five and 10.