64-year-old before court on historic sexual abuse charges, including one allegedly at Ashley
Half a decade after speaking up, charges are finally being heard in court over abuse allegations at notorious Ashley Detention Centre. Here’s what it means to whistleblower Alysha.
Tasmania
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Ashley Detention Centre whistleblower Alysha has spent five years working towards getting justice for victim survivors.
Wednesday was the first time a case against an alleged perpetrator saw the inside of a courtroom.
Outside of Launceston Magistrates Court Alysha said it was a momentous day.
“It marks the beginning of what should have occurred so long ago,” she said.
“I hope that this is the first of many charges to be laid against other individuals.”
“I personally felt the need to be here to see it myself, to know it’s real.”
Speaking generally, Alysha said it was just the beginning and hoped victim survivors would be getting the support they needed to see them empowered.
“I hope that the government will offer a lot of support for victim survivors of all Ashley offenders,” she said.
“To engage with police if they want to, because they do have distrust, and right now. If they’re genuine about getting on top of this, they need to provide wraparound support, rebuild trust and ask them to come forward.”
Alysha said she expected upwards of 30 cases and Ashley staff members to be charged.
“The task force that is working on this appears to be working hard,” she said.
“I’d like to see more charges, but for more charges to be laid, evidence needs to be gathered. We need to provide support to survivors to come forward. These aren’t typical victim survivors. These are people who have had traumatic experiences with the judicial system and police.”
Alysha said once trust is rebuilt, victim survivors can feel safe enough to step forward.
“That would then lead to so many dangerous people in our community being finally held to account,” she said.
“We need to show the survivors that we want to hear from them.”
Historic sexual abuse charges before court
A 64-year-old Tasmanian man faced court at Launceston Magistrates on Wednesday for historic sexual abuse charges.
Dale Creely didn’t plea but his lawyer asked for an adjournment which was granted.
The charges were seven counts of rape, and one count of indecent assault.
The charges related to instances of abuse are alleged to have taken place between 1974 and 1982, while another instance of abuse is alleged to have occurred at the Ashley Youth Detention Centre between 1990 and 2021 while the man was an employee.
The charges came from matters that were investigated as a result of the Commission of Inquiry into the Tasmanian Government’s Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Institutional Settings.
The man will next face court on August 27 to plea.
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