Berhampore sex claims settled

Radio NZ
May 16 2007; 10:37

Out-of-court settlement reached for Presbyterian sexual abuse claimants.

After years of negotiations, former residents of Wellington's Berhampore Children's home have reached an out-of-court settlement with Presbyterian Support Central over sex abuse claims.

Around seventeen people claimed they were sexually abused while living at the home forty years ago, by its former manager Walter Lake, who died before charges could be laid.

The lawyer representing the claimants, Gordon Paine, says a settlement was reached with all of his thirteen clients.

He says the majority have expressed relief that the ordeal is over, and the settlement will help to give them closure.

Mr Paine says his clients have agreed to a confidentiality clause as part of the settlement, so its details can not be revealed.






The Dominion Post
May 16 2007

Children's home abuse claim settled out of court
by Colin Patterson

Former Berhampore Children's Home residents who claimed they were abused by supervisor Walter Lake have ended their campaign after an out-of-court settlement.

The 13 former residents said that Lake sexually abused them in the 1950s and 1960s while he was in charge of the home, which closed in 1985.

Lake died in November 2004, aged 84, as police were about to charge him with multiple sex offences.

The claimants have been in a long-running battle with Presbyterian Support Central -- which owned the home -- for compensation and an apology.

In 2005, the two groups agreed that barrister George Barton would be employed as a commissioner to assess the claims.

Chief executive Mark Woodard said the complainants had now received an apology from Presbyterian Support "for any way in which the organisation may have contributed to their anguish or trauma".

Other details of the settlement were confidential.

Gordon Paine, the lawyer who represented the 13 complainants, could not be reached for comment.

Meanwhile, a complainant who took separate legal action against Presbyterian Support said yesterday that he had reached a settlement with Presbyterian Support.

David Bahler -- identified only as B in court papers -- went to the High Court in December 2006 asking it to award him $50,000 that he said Presbyterian Support had agreed to pay following legal negotiations. But the court dismissed his claim.

His lawyer and Presbyterian Support's lawyer had since reached an agreement, which was also confidential.

Mr Bahler said he was happy with the outcome. He said the matter was now "dead and buried".






NZ Herald
May 16 2007

Children's home sex abuse claims 'settled'
NZPA

Former residents of Wellington's Berhampore Children's Home reached an out-of-court settlement over sexual abuse claims, it was reported today.

The 13 former residents said that supervisor Walter Lake sexually abused them in the 1950s and 1960s at the home, which closed in 1985.

Police were about to charge Lake with multiple sex offences when he died in November 2004, aged 84.

The claimants have been in a long-running battle with Presbyterian Support Central -- which owned the home -- for compensation and an apology.

PSC chief executive Mark Woodward told the Dominion Post today that a confidential settlement had been reached with the claimants and that they had now received an apology "for any way in which the organisation may have contributed to their anguish or trauma".