And another.....

[polksaladallie]

Queensland criminologist Paul Wilson appears in Brisbane court on indecent dealing charges

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-03-24/criminologist-paul-wilson-faces-indecent-dealing-charges/53410...

I used to admire his work, but lost respect when he went to the defence of Corby many years ago.

[j*oono]

OK Thanks.  I had never even heard of him. 

[i-need-a-martini]

So how to explain instances (like the accustaions made against Rolf Harros) where the parents of the children knew (supposedly) and still did nothing?

These mass accustaions that are occurring at the moment really worry me because I think it is becoming difficult to tell fiction from reality.

[polksaladallie]

I'll give an example of what the climate was like about 45 years ago.  I informed the local police about a seven year old girl over the road from us who was being s/abused by a male teenager about 16 or 17 who lived next door to her.  They did nothing, and it continued.  One day this boy beckoned to my five year old daughter.  I decided to move house then.  This sort of abuse was not on the radar then, unfortunately.

[azureline**]

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@i-need-a-martini wrote:

So how to explain instances (like the accustaions made against Rolf Harros) where the parents of the children knew (supposedly) and still did nothing?

These mass accustaions that are occurring at the moment really worry me because I think it is becoming difficult to tell fiction from reality.

---

That is how I feel too.

I know people who have been abused by a relative, I have no doubt they were but over time, some of their memories are not very clear and have become mixed up with the accusations made by other family members.

I don't excuse parents who knew, I don't care who tried to intimidate them, it was their job to protect their children.

[freakiness]

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@polksaladallie wrote:

I'll give an example of what the climate was like about 45 years ago.  I informed the local police about a seven year old girl over the road from us who was being s/abused by a male teenager about 16 or 17 who lived next door to her.  They did nothing, and it continued.  One day this boy beckoned to my five year old daughter.  I decided to move house then.  This sort of abuse was not on the radar then, unfortunately.

---

We had an old creep down the road who taught the girls who lived next door to him what to do when they got married.  He used to give all the kids in the neighbourhood cigarettes. He was related to my mother.  She never did tell me why she had a fit when she found out I went to his house and that the girls next door used to go their all the time.  I was too young and uninformed to know what it was that was going on.  Looking back on it now it is obvious that teaching them for marriage was not in their best interests but in the interest of his sleazy thrills.

[izabsmiling]

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@lind9650 wrote:

He is 73 years old.

What astounds me lately is that most indecent assault charges are being started many years after the alleged incident and after the men have become successful and whealthy. Why wait 40 years or more to accuse someone?

Erica

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So many never can bring themselves to go through with the personal pain and shame which comes with using the Legal System...often for very little in the way of real justice.

I know also that it can take  10 years (maybe more in some cases)  for old cases to be heard in Court..after they are reported.

There is even public shame for this alleged victim merely because the man has money.

The victims who can come forward are brave and strong imo.

[cherry*135]

Parents may have felt intimidated going up against their local priest, policeman, or Doctor 40 odd years ago?
If they went to the police to put in a complaint would the police believe the girl and follow it through?

As seen in some of the more recent cases the perpetrator is very cunning, making it look like nothing much is going on. A person who is well known to and liked by the family.

Not making excuses for any parent who was told by their child when the abuse was taking place though.

[cherry*135]

The abuser is at fault, blame them.

[freddie*rooster]

I have pictures of me standing holding this paedophile priest hand, I was dressed in my first holy communion dress and veil. I was one very lucky child.

https://www.google.com.au/?gfe_rd=cr&ei=8Ot2U5vsAsKN8Qf4lYHACA#q=father+denis+mcalinden

[izabsmiling]

This is from 2012

The alleged victims claimed the renowned criminologist inappropriately touched them at his Brisbane home in 1974 when he was aged 33 and they were friends of his daughter, The Gold Coast Bulletin reports.

One of the girls, now aged in her 40s, reported the abuse last year and a subsequent police investigation uncovered the second alleged victim.

Both women have provided police with detailed statements.

Professor Wilson, 71, who has been living in Singapore, arrived back in Brisbane yesterday, declaring he would fight the allegations that threaten to destroy his career as one of the country's most respected criminology academics and revered authors.

During a police raid on Professor Wilson's Gold Coast home in October last year, a number of photographs belonging to the ex-head of Bond University school of criminology were seized by detectives.

Leading criminal lawyer Bill Potts said yesterday his client would "fight the allegations" which allege Professor Wilson was working at the University of Queensland when he allegedly assaulted the two girls at his home around the time of the 1974 Queensland floods.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/professor-accused-of-sex-abuse/story-fndo317g-122652175349...

I notice the number of witness statements in the article in the OP is over 50.It notes that there has been changes to the recollections ..that may sound suspect to some though it happens.Witnesses may be asked to expand and clarify parts of their original witness statements and/or they may have later thought of something else which may be relevant which they hadn't considered so.