Cornwall News AM 1220

November 29, 2006 — Testimony today at the Cornwall Public Inquiry is centering on how the police investigated a couple of sex abuse allegations. On the stand is Claude Marleau, who says he was abused by eight men including five priests during his pre-teen and teenage years. Marleau said initially, he was pleased with how the O-P-P dealt with his complaints, but as time passes, he now questions why the diocese was never investigated. Only one man was convicted in Marleau’s case; Father Paul Lapierre was found guilty in a Quebec court two years ago. He faced similar charges in Ontario but was acquitted. Cross-examination gets underway when the hearings resume tomorrow.

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Police Investigations In The Spotlight

Cornwall News AM 1220

November 29, 2006 — The majority of testimony at the Cornwall Public Inquiry is centering on police investigations today. A victim is testifying about his involvement with police. Claude Marleau says he often had to initiate the calls and had to ask for information. He said the sooner the criminal part was over he could get on with his life. He says the officers did the best they could with the resources they had but wondered why their “higher ups” didn’t tell them to investigate the diocese. Marleau says he suffered abuse at the hands of eight men including five priests while growing up in Cornwall. One priest was convicted in a Quebec court two years ago.