Paedophile complaint ‘ignored for eight years’: predator nurse Jim Griffin could have been stopped, inquiry hears

A male nurse was allowed to continue to work on a paediatric ward for eight years after a social worker reported that he had sexually abused her as a child, an inquiry has heard.

Kylee Pearn. Picture: Luke Bowden/ABC

A male nurse was allowed to continue to work on a paediatric ward for eight years after a social worker reported that he had ­sexually abused her as a child, an inquiry has heard.

The commission of inquiry into the Tasmanian government’s responses to child sexual abuse heard on Tuesday that the Launceston General Hospital failed to take action in response to a 2011 report about James (Jim) Geoffrey Griffin.

Griffin went on to abuse other children at the LGH’s paediatric ward 4K, before finally being charged with child sex offences in 2019.

Social worker Kylee Pearn gave evidence that she recognised Griffin as the man who abused her as a child when she started working at the LGH in 2011, and reported this to human resources. She was “stunned” that no action was taken against Griffin, but it was not until 2019, when she heard of other victims coming forward, she decided to make a police complaint.

Believing LGH management had “fobbed off” her complaint, she spoke to then-health minister Sarah Courtney who later foreshadowed to her an ­announcement, which turned out to be the commission.

The commission heard of mystery surrounding the ­absence of paperwork about Ms Pearn’s 2011 disclosure.

Department of Health HR manager James Bellinger gave evidence that there should have been a “file note” but that none existed. He told the commission he could not remember being at a meeting that discussed Ms Pearn’s disclosure.

Asked what should have happened when such a disclosure was made, Mr Bellinger said it should have been reported to the relevant authorities.

Immediate advice should have been sought from the solicitor-general as to whether Griffin should remain on the ward, he told the commission. “I’d be picking up the phone that day,” he said.

Mr Bellinger also gave evidence that before 2019, when Griffin was charged and committed suicide awaiting trial, there was no training or system at the LGH to detect and ­respond to concerns about child sex abuse or grooming.

He agreed it was a significant failing that a series of complaints about Griffin from 2004 onwards were dealt with individually, with past unsubstantiated allegations not taken into ­account. As well, he agreed with counsel assisting that if all the complaints had been considered or collated together they would have identified a pattern of ­behaviour that could have been acted on.

Earlier, department HR consultant Mathew Harvey gave evidence that a 2017 complaint about Griffin talking to 14-year-old girls with eating disorders about wanting to “shag” a nurse nicknamed “Tittsy” was not treated as sexualised in nature.

If you or someone you know is at risk of suicide, call Lifeline (13 11 14) or the Suicide Call Back Service (1300 659 467), or see a doctor.