Australia - Performing arts school at centre of child abuse claims stands in disarray

Performing arts school at centre of child abuse claims stands in disarray, neighbour feels 'crook'
ABC News
BY PAIGE COCKBURN AND KATHLEEN CALDERWOOD
ABOUT AN HOUR AGO (as at 07:46 AEDT 07 February 2018)

‘Knee-high grass, graffiti and half-finished pottery projects — don't forget the wall of clocks.

A peek inside the performing arts school in regional NSW linked to 127 child abuse allegations reveals a building stuck in time, in more ways than one.

Inside one of the rooms, where half-finished pottery projects are littered over tables, several antiquated clocks hang from the wall, their hands not moving.

Seven people linked to the school are behind bars, accused of a long and lurid list of sexual and physical abuse against three boys, all aged under eight.

A neighbour of the school told the ABC he felt sick after learning of the allegations levelled by police yesterday, among the most confronting of which was that the young boys were subjected to "blood rituals".

Police claim blood was taken from the children, who were then forced to drink it.

The accused — four women aged 58, 29, 26 and 20, two men aged 52 and 18, and a 17-year-old girl — are all connected to the regional arts school and intend to plead not guilty.

The group's lawyer, Bryan Wrench, said there was "another side" to this story in court yesterday.‘

Read more at:

http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2018-02-07/performing-arts-school-at-centre-of-child-abuse/9402090

Related:

Group linked to performing arts school in regional NSW carried out 'blood rituals' during abuse of boys, police allegep
http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2018-...ople-linked-to-performing-arts-school/9399192

Wow. I wonder what the evidence is

human said:

Wow. I wonder what the evidence is

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Me too. You must’ve seen a lot of this in the States. I reckon they should be called ‘paedophile gangs’.

This is horrific.

Linking details of the seven arrests as per monday prior to yesterdays court:

http://www.bluemountainsgazette.com...ba-residents-charged-in-police-sting/?cs=1432

An 18-year-old Katoomba man was charged with 42 offences, including kidnapping, sexual intercourse with a child under 10, and common assault.


The man was refused bail to appear at a children’s court on Tuesday.

A 26-year-old Katoomba woman was charged with 13 offences, including aggravated sexual assault in company, and detaining someone for advantage.

She was refused bail to appear at Penrith Local Court on Tuesday.

A 52-year-old Katoomba man was charged with three counts of aggravated sexual assault in company (child under 10), holding male child abuse material, and using a child under 14 to make child abuse material.

He was refused bail to appear at Penrith Local Court on Tuesday.

A 58-year-old Katoomba woman was charged with 43 offences, including aggravated sexual assault of a child under 10, having sexual intercourse with a child under 10, and aggravated kidnapping.

She was refused bail to appear at Penrith Local Court on Tuesday.

A 17-year-old girl, of Wentworthville, was charged with eight counts of aggravated sexual assault in company, aggravated kidnapping and producing child abuse material.

A 20-year Old Canterbury woman was charged with aggravated sexual assault, aggravated kidnapping taking a person in company and committing a serious indictable offence, two counts of common assault, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The pair were refused bail to appear at a children’s court on Tuesday, February 6.


A 29-year Canterbury woman was charged with five counts of aggravated sexual assault in company depriving liberty, and three counts of common assault.

She was refused bail to appear at Burwood Local Court today.

Police will allege in court the group participated in ongoing sexual and physical abuse of three boys, who were known to them, between 2014 and 2016 in the Blue Mountains.

So is this like what happened in the U.S. with accusations of Satanic ritual abuses that were later debunked after people had spent time in prison? Improper interview techniques planted ideas in children’s minds. I’m not saying these abuses listed above couldn’t have happened, but given the history of hysteria, the word of the children cannot be accepted without question. Hopefully interviews were videotaped.

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/terror/meaning/

https://www.snopes.com/2017/06/23/satanic-panic/

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day-care_sex-abuse_hysteria

This is a case that happened in Jordan Minnesota back in the 80’s. Because of how it was handled, the FBI training manual uses or at least used this case as a training tool.

I do not recall who was guilty, but I know a social worker who was involved in it and from what he describes, there was sex abuse going on.

My sister had adopted a couple of children and she was in a group of adoptive parents discussing issues, There were a couple of people who had adopted children from Jordan and the children were abused.

That is what I know.

http://people.com/archive/divided-b...nnesota-town-seethes-with-anger-vol-22-no-17/

Lilibet said:

So is this like what happened in the U.S. with accusations of Satanic ritual abuses that were later debunked after people had spent time in prison? Improper interview techniques planted ideas in children’s minds. I’m not saying these abuses listed above couldn’t have happened, but given the history of hysteria, the word of the children cannot be accepted without question. Hopefully interviews were videotaped.

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/terror/meaning/

https://www.snopes.com/2017/06/23/satanic-panic/

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day-care_sex-abuse_hysteria

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Respected public investigative journalists wrote this article. The word of a child, when it comes to reporting of child abuse, must always be taken seriously, then it is investigated by a NSWPOL specialist squad and only then are charges laid by the ODPP. There is no naming of suspects or victims, until conviction and, sometimes not at all; if it would result in the identification of the children concerned.

human said:

This is a case that happened in Jordan Minnesota back in the 80’s. Because of how it was handled, the FBI training manual uses or at least used this case as a training tool.

I do not recall who was guilty, but I know a social worker who was involved in it and from what he describes, there was sex abuse going on.

My sister had adopted a couple of children and she was in a group of adoptive parents discussing issues, There were a couple of people who had adopted children from Jordan and the children were abused.

That is what I know.

http://people.com/archive/divided-b...nnesota-town-seethes-with-anger-vol-22-no-17/

Click to expand...

Although it’s probable that there was some sex abuse in Jordan, it’s the extreme and widespread accusations that are questionable. Apparently, the initial investigation was botched, in this and many other cases. While those of us on WS are well aware of the reality of abuse, history tells us that memories can be planted and hysteria can reign, hurting both adults and children caught up in it. So I hope that this case in Australia is handled carefully, both for the sake of the children and the accused.

https://www.mprnews.org/story/2015/08/21/bcst-books-thread-we-believe-the-children

Lilibet said:

Although it’s probable that there was some sex abuse in Jordan, it’s the extreme and widespread accusations that are questionable. Apparently, the intitial investigation was botched, in this and many other cases. While those of us on WS are well aware of the reality of abuse, history tells us that memories can be planted and hysteria can reign, hurting both adults and children caught up in it. So I hope that this case in Australia is handled carefully, both for the sake of the children and the accused.

https://www.mprnews.org/story/2015/08/21/bcst-books-thread-we-believe-the-children

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I understand. That is the US. In Australia we have different laws, standards of proof and investigative practices. I would trust this Prosecution is valid.

The US has changed its practices because of the Jordan case. That was over thirty years ago

human said:

The US has changed its practices because of the Jordan case. That was over thirty years ago

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Is that case on WS, human? I’d like to read the thread if possible.

Bohemian said:

Is that case on WS, human? I’d like to read the thread if possible.

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Not that I know of. I am very familiar with it because I am from MN and because of my job and my sister.

Bohemian said:

Respected public investigative journalists wrote this article. The word of a child, when it comes to reporting of child abuse, must always be taken seriously, then it is investigated by a NSWPOL specialist squad and only then are charges laid by the ODPP. There is no naming of suspects or victims, until conviction and, sometimes not at all; if it would result in the identification of the children concerned.

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I’m not doubting the credentials of the journalists at all. Of course the word of children reporting child abuse should absolutely be taken seriously and handled carefully. I’m not suggesting these children are lying or that the case hasn’t been handled properly. At least Australia preserves confidentiality of all concerned. I am simply expressing the hope the investigators learned from the hysteria that hurt many innocent adults and children in the U.S. in past decades. When I see a large number of adults accused of horrific abuse, it brings back to mind what happened here. Children need to be believed, and it’s also important to remember that mistakes can happen, even with the best of intentions. That’s all.
JMO

human said:

Not that I know of. I am very familiar with it because I am from MN and because of my job and my sister.

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Thanks. I’ll look it up the history of the case online. We have had a case like this involving very young children; one an infant, in recent memory. And another suspected and currently being investigated case of abduction of a 3 year old boy, allegedly by a group of connected and unconnected RCSOs; and an alleged RCSO who is facing trial for historical charges in two states, and who were all members, or spouses of members, of regional Grandparent’s Kinship Care organisations.

Lilibet said:

I’m not doubting the credentials of the journalists at all. Of course the word of children reporting child abuse should absolutely be taken seriously and handled carefully. I’m not suggesting these children are lying or that the case hasn’t been handled properly. At least Australia preserves confidentiality of all concerned. I am simply expressing the hope the investigators learned from the hysteria that hurt many innocent adults and children in the U.S. in past decades. When I see a large number of adults accused of horrific abuse, it brings back to mind what happened here. Children need to be believed, and it’s also important to remember that mistakes can happen, even with the best of intentions. That’s all.
JMO

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I agree and Australian law enforcement work very closely with international investigators from many countries; including the US and INTERPOL.

Bohemian said:

Thanks. I’ll look it up the history of the case online. We have had a case like this involving very young children; one an infant, in recent memory. And another suspected and currently being investigated case of abduction of a 3 year old boy, allegedly by a group of connected and unconnected RCSOs; and an alleged RCSO who is facing trial for historical charges in two states, and who were all members, or spouses of members, of regional Grandparent’s Kinship Care organisations.

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To me, the Jordan case is more like the Brittany Wood case on here. Or is it Britney. Generations of incest.

human said:

To me, the Jordan case is more like the Brittany Wood case on here. Or is it Britney. Generations of incest.

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Now that sounds familiar. Brittney, I think.

http://www.al.com/news/mobile/index.ssf/2015/10/twisted_tale_of_perversion_sti.html

Thanks for the tip, human. Forewarned is forearmed. If it can happen in the US, it can happen here. I think many Aussies think events such as this are conspiracy theories or victim’s lies — I don’t believe this is true. We are merely a microcosm of the global community, and we need to take note of what has happened OS. Both now and in the past — to protect our children in the present and prevent harm coming to them in the future.

The low of low.

Lets hope they get their due comeuppance

Unit45 said:

The low of low.

Lets hope they get their due comeuppance

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We are but babes in the woods.

Karma is coming. You can’t escape it.

Interesting you say that about karma. Its seen differently in many cultures.

At the end of the day, those that hurt others it rebounds times many. It may not for them be in this life time but they will
feel the pain at other point in time.