An inquiry has heard the YMCA did not share all information about checks on staff with parents. Source: AAP
AN inquiry has been told that when the YMCA gave information to parents whose children had been in the care of pedophile Jonathan Lord, they were not totally honest.
Ann Mary Nolan, operations manager for the association which runs child care centres across the country, has told the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse that the YMCA was not sharing too much information after Lord was arrested for sexually assaulting children.
She had made presentations to parents affected by the revelations that Lord had worked at south Sydney centres attended by their children, assuring them the YMCA was committed to keeping their children in a safe environment by complying with child protection policies and that staff were monitored for compliance.
She was asked by Maria Gerace, lawyer representing parents, if she knew at the time Lord had not been monitored for compliance, even though she was reassuring parents.
Ms Nolan said the presentation was about all staff not just Lord.
She said Lord had a working-with-children check and referees had been checked.
"What is being put to you was when you made the presentation it was not true," Justice Peter McClellan said.
Ms Nolan said Lord's checks had been done, but were not done correctly.
"Why did you not tell parents this, instead of this presentation?" Justice McClellan asked.
Ms Nolan said it was because her presentation in November, 2011 was an overall view of the Y, not just of Lord.
Justice McClellan then asked if she was not able to tell parents honestly what had happened.
"At that point, no," she said.
Justice McClellan then asked her, "Why not?"
"I do believe that we were not sharing too much information," Ms Nolan says and in reply to Ms Gerace, she agreed it should not have happened.
On Tuesday the commission was told by YMCA services manager, Jacqui Barnat, that Jonathan Lord's stepfather was the only referee of which she had a written record.
The commission sighted a document which showed that written record was incomplete.
The commission opened on Wednesday with Justice McClellan telling the counsel representing the YMCA, Greg Sirtes, SC, that there may be a conflict of interest in him representing Ms Barnat as well as the YMCA.
He said the reputation of Ms Barnat was in question.
Mr Sirtes said he did not see a conflict emerging, but would consult with the board of the YMCA.
The commission, which in ongoing, is looking at how the YMCA handled allegations against Lord, who is now serving a minimum of six years for sexually assaulting children.
30 Oct, 2013
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