Family of victim of scoutmaster abuse calls for public inquiry

Sunday, 22 July 2018

Former Papamoa scout leader Graham Morine back in 2011, one year before the offending for which he has been sentenced took place (file photo).

Victims of convicted paedophile Scoutmaster Graham Morine are calling for the Royal Commission of Inquiry into historical state care abuse to include Scouts New Zealand.

'I want answers to what happened on Scouts camps,' says the mother of one victim, who is speaking publicly for the first time. 'I want answers to what happened at jamboree and what leaders knew, and who didn't know, and how this happened.'

This week Scouts New Zealand echoed the call and has asked the Commission - whose inquiry was announced in February by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern - to broaden the terms of reference to allow groups like Scouts to be included.

Acting Scouts New Zealand chief executive John Williams says doing so would allow better understanding of 'past wrongs'.

'It would also result in better and more comprehensive recommendations that could be implemented by any organisation working with children and young people.'

* Scout leader who molested nine-year-old boy jailed**

Morine was in February sentenced to seven years and seven months in jail after admitting four representative charges of indecent assault and sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection against two victims.

Then, it was revealed Scouts New Zealand was warned about Morine before he went on to offend, in an email sent to then-chief Chris Hooper, which was forwarded on to national secretary Murray Charlesworth.

Speaking publicly for the first time about the abuse, the mother of one of Morine's victims says her child was routinely abused by Morine at camps and the national jamboree despite the email warning.

A reply to the email said Scouts would keep a 'close eye' on Morine and that he had limited access to children, but he was still allowed to attend jamboree where thousands of Scouts gather each year.

The Tauranga District Court previously heard Morine, 76, used fear to lure the children into his bed. The victims said they would wake up in Morine's bed with no idea how they got there.

The community was oblivious to the offending but the victim's family became suspicious of Morine, claiming he became aggressive and made threats.

Now, the family wants answers.

Williams says Scouts investigated Morine but could not substantiate evidence of misbehaviour.

'We are very sorry that a person with responsibility for young people in our care betrayed the trust of parents and Scouts New Zealand,' he said.

'We are very sorry that we were not able to prevent it.'

The victim's mother says the decision not to alert police was 'not there's to make'.

'They are not the law, they are an organisation,' she says. 'They should have said to police, 'we have this information, what do we do now?''

The victims of Morine's crimes have been through a 'tough year' according to family. Counselling was offered to family by Scouts but was turned down.

'[The victim] is doing well considering everything they've been through. They have someone safe they are talking to and working through it.'

There is still fear, anger and confusion but having Morine behind bars is some small comfort.

The mother does not hold current executives accountable for the actions of previous ones but says a public inquiry could put paedophiles off using scouts.

The mother has asked for a refund of all camps and jamborees her child attended.

The Royal Commission says it's received more than 400 submissions from individuals and organisations for its draft terms of reference.

'The next step is for Cabinet to agree on the final Terms of Reference, the terms of which will be publicly notified by the Minister.

'That decision will determine if Scouts will be within scope.'

Overseas, an Australian Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuses found Scouts Australia had a 'long history' of child sex abuse allegations.

Scouts NSW changed its child protection policies in 2014 after it was revealed they failed to take action against a Scout leader convicted for abusing children in his care.

Williams says Scouts has bolstered its child and youth protection policy by educating leaders and empowering people to speak up .

'Leaders are never alone with a young person during scouting activities,' he said.

People were encouraged to report abuse to its national office, where it had set up a dedicated phone line.