Lake Alice public hearing: 21 June witness list and evidence summaries
The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry Lake Alice Child and Adolescent Unit public hearing continues today in Auckland.
Witness evidence summaries are outlined below.
After a witness speaks, their full evidence along with footage of them speaking, will be available for download.
The hearing is being live-streamed on the Abuse in Care website. Please note the livestream is unavailable for two of today’s witnesses, however footage may be available following their appearances.
Hearing location: Level 2, 414 Khyber Pass Road, Newmarket, Auckland 1023.
10am approx.
Brian Stabb (livestream unavailable – a recording may be available following appearance)
Brian Stabb was a psychiatric nurse who worked in mental health for over 30 years. He originally trained in England before emigrating to New Zealand. Mr Stabb was a relief nurse at the Lake Alice Child and Adolescent Unit for several months, before becoming a permanent staff member from mid-1974 to 1976. He will give evidence about the operation of the unit prior to his permanent transfer there, including a programme of aversion therapy. Mr Stabb will also give evidence about the changes to the unit he witnessed in his tenure, the treatments he witnessed or participated in, and the daily life of the residents in the unit.
11.45am approx.
Grant Cameron
Mr Cameron will give evidence about representing former Lake Alice Child and Adolescent Unit patients in litigation. In the 1990s and 2000s, Mr Cameron represented 95 Lake Alice Child and Adolescent Unit survivors in a class action lawsuit against the Crown. This resulted in a settlement agreement between the Crown and former Lake Alice patients. GCA Lawyers went on to represent other Lake Alice survivors in a further redress process, designed for survivors of the unit who had not settled.
2.15pm approx.
Grant Cameron continued
3.45pm approx.
Gloria Barr (livestream unavailable – a recording may be available following appearance)
Ms Barr worked as a hospital aid at Lake Alice Hospital. She started work in the geriatric villa before moving to the acute villa and then the Child and Adolescent Unit. Ms Barr gives evidence about her perspectives on the Lake Alice staff, the use of electroconvulsive therapy without anaesthetic on children and her experiences while working in the Child and Adolescent Unit.
Media enquiries: 027 298 2094; media@abuseincare.org.nz
About the Abuse in Care Inquiry
The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry is investigating the abuse and neglect that happened to children, young people and vulnerable adults in care from 1950 and 1999.