Senior Melbourne Yeshiva rabbi resigns over handling of child sex abuse scandal, Children 'were victims of sectarian abuse'

Senior Melbourne Yeshiva rabbi resigns over handling of child sex abuse scandal
Zvi Telsner apologises for the way he dealt with victims and their families at Melbourne Jewish school and urges ‘everyone to show compassion and support’

Yeshiva College was among the Jewish schools in Melbourne and Sydney examined by the royal commission into institutional responses to child sexual abuse.
Australian Associated Press  Tuesday 1 September 2015

One of Australia’s most senior rabbis has stepped aside, apologising for his treatment of child sex abuse victims at a Melbourne Jewish school.

Rabbi Zvi Telsner has said he will step down immediately as head of Melbourne’s Yeshiva Centre, which manages schools including Yeshiva College, apologising for his behaviour towards victims....

The hearings exposed a culture of turning a blind eye, a lack of knowledge about child abuse and reporting requirements, and a dearth of sympathy for victims between the 1980s and 2010.

Telsner told the royal commission he believes paedophiles can be cured over time....
http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/sep/02/senior-melbourne-yeshiva-rabbi-resigns-over-handling-of-child-sex-abuse-scandal


Children 'were victims of sectarian abuse'
01 Sep 2015
Children were allegedly subjected to sectarian abuse by staff at a state run institution, an inquiry heard on Tuesday.

Catholic and Protestant residents at the Lisnevin training school in Newtownards were alleged to have fought regularly during the height of the Troubles in the 1970s, according to witnesses.

Lawyer Christine Smith QC told the Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry (HIA) that the fights were daily.

Ms Smith said that although Lisnevin was non-denominational in 1973, a former resident had claimed there was “sectarian abuse from other residents and staff.”

Lisnevin operated as a training school between 1973 and 2003.

The Inquiry was also told of abuse allegations at another institution - St Patrick's in west Belfast.

Lawyer Joseph Aiken said fewer than 2% of residents at the Catholic-run school made the allegations.

Police considered some of the claims surrounding St Patrick's to be "demonstrably" false, he said.

Of more than 4,000 residents, 66 individuals (1.45%) made allegations to the Inquiry of some form of abuse....
http://www.u.tv/News/2015/09/01/Children-were-victims-of-sectarian-abuse-44134