‘I just asked her if that man was bad and she said yes’: Mother tells commission of inquiry trauma story under paedophile nurse
“I just asked her if that man was bad and she said yes.” A mother has shared the traumatic story of her vulnerable daughter’s experience under the care of a notorious child sexual abuser.
Tasmania
Don't miss out on the headlines from Tasmania. Followed categories will be added to My News.
AT JUST 11 years old, Lillian* already had a tough start to life – suffering cerebral palsy, quadriplegia and being non-verbal.
But things were about to get even worse under the care of the Launceston General Hospital – and the now notorious serial child sexual abuser, nurse James Geoffrey Griffin.
On Tuesday, Lillian’s mother Angela* gave evidence on day two of a commission of inquiry into the Tasmanian government’s responses to child sexual abuse in institutional settings.
Tearfully, she shared the traumatic story of what happened to her vulnerable daughter just four years ago in 2018 under the care of a nurse she only knew as “Jimbo”.
Angela said although Lillian relied on hand gestures and other devices to communicate, she agreed that on the inside, she was a “vibrant person” and was more than able to think for herself.
But she said her daughter was left crying, screaming, distressed and with ongoing separation anxiety since her admission to Launceston General Hospital for concerns relating to a prior hip operation.
Angela said the hospital wasn’t ready for their arrival, with nothing prepared and no systems to help Lillian communicate.
She also said her daughter soon developed sepsis, and that Lillian started acting strangely around “Jimbo”.
“It makes me feel sick, and horrible and angry,” Angela said.
“I’ve never seen her that distressed before, and that’s why it was so strange.
“Something wasn’t right, she wasn’t comfortable and she wanted to come home.”
Angela noticed signs of abuse, which she raised with Griffin, and said he inappropriately touched her daughter in front of her.
“Things got worse,” Angela told the commissioners.
“I turned up the next day and she was screaming in her bed, she was sweating.
“All the blinds were pulled down.”
She said the doctors wouldn’t listen to her or hear her concerns that something had happened to her daughter – and that instead, staff “all shrugged it off”.
Angela said still to this day, the hospital had taken no action in response to her complaints.
“That’s why I called child safety, because I didn’t know who else to call,” she said.
“(The hospital staff) called me at one stage, ‘the girl with the ugg boots’. That’s how they treated me, because I’m a single parent.”
In a bid to keep Griffin away from Lillian, Angela instructed hospital staff that no males were to change her daughter.
“I just asked her if that man was bad and she said yes,” she said.
About a year after Lillian left the hospital, Angela said she read about Griffin in the media.
“It was a big reality check,” she said.
“I didn’t know his name so it was a big shock. Everything we assumed happened, happened, if not worse.”
“I feel like I failed (Lillian).”
Griffin, 69, died by suicide in 2019 after he was charged with a number of child sexual abuse offences dating back as far as the 1980s.
* Names changed to protect identities.
If you or a loved one are struggling, further support is available:
Lifeline Australia – 13 11 14
Beyond Blue – 1300 22 46 36
Rural Alive and Well – 1300 4357 6283
Kids Helpline – 1800 551 800
‘It made me so ill’: Commission of Inquiry hears first harrowing case - May 2
“PAULA” was a vulnerable teenage girl when she spent months on end at the Launceston General Hospital – under the care of nurse James Geoffrey Griffin.
After she was discharged, her life never returned to an “even keel” – instead living a life of constant ups and downs until her tragic, accidental death in the early 2000s.
Now, her mother “Kim”, wonders what really happened under the supposed care of now-deceased Griffin – who has since been outed as a serial child sexual abuser.
On Monday, Kim spoke on day one at the Commission of Inquiry into the Tasmanian government’s responses to child sexual abuse.
With her identity strictly anonymised, she told the commission that Griffin “gained our trust that he was going to be helping with our daughter”.
Kim explained Paula – whose name has also been anonymised – had an eating disorder, and that her family had been “grateful” for Griffin’s help.
“Jim was always a very friendly, outgoing, caring person. He always had that about him, that you could feel that you could trust him,” she said.
“I was grateful. It was a very overwhelming time.”
Kim said Griffin invited her daughter for sleepovers in his rumpus room at his home, and that she visited his house for barbecues and other functions.
Then she said one day, the friendship between Paula and Griffin suddenly stopped, with no apparent reason why.
After her daughter’s death, Kim read about Griffin’s exposed history of child sexual abuse in the media – and that “it made me so ill”.
“All these thoughts raced through my head that maybe these things, terrible things happened to (Paula) and she’d never spoken about them,” she said
“It’s just something that’s always going to be with me and I’ll always wonder, and I can’t speak to Paula about it and nothing will really be resolved for me.”
Kim was the first person to give evidence in the Commission of Inquiry, which will hear evidence over six weeks until August this year.
Inquiry into child sexual abuse in Tasmania’s institutions begins
A DISSECTION of the Tasmanian government’s responses to child sexual abuse has begun in Hobart – the start of what will be six weeks of fielding harrowing evidence from victim-survivors.
The highly-anticipated Commission of Inquiry was announced by former Premier Peter Gutwein in November 2020 after a slew of disturbing allegations against Tasmanian government staff, including now-deceased Launceston General Hospital nurse and serial child abuser James Geoffrey Griffin.
Between now and August, a trio of commissioners will hear evidence related to child sexual abuse allegations at the Ashley Youth Detention Centre, Launceston General Hospital, Tasmanian state schools and in out-of-home care.
On Monday, in her opening address, commission president Marcia Neave said the process was “completely independent” and aimed to examine how the Tasmanian government’s “systems and practices worked when responding to child sexual abuse among its ranks.
“We will hear devastating stories of children being sexually abused by adults in positions of power and trust,” she said.
Ms Neave said the commission would also hear stories of when evidence of abuse had been downplayed.
“Despite this, we also expect we will hear extraordinary stories of determined individuals who tirelessly worked to protect children,” she said.
Ms Neave said the role of the commission was not to determine the guilt or otherwise of alleged perpetrators, which was a role for the police and the court system.
Counsel assisting the commission, Elizabeth Bennett SC, said some witnesses had expressed fear of reprisal in terms of speaking before the commission.
“We’ve heard a number of witnesses express concern they may face negative consequences providing evidence to this commission of inquiry,” she said.
“We say again that any discouragement of witnesses speaking to this commission will not be tolerated.”
Ms Bennett said in sessions with victim-survivors in the lead-up to the commission, common themes included the devastating, lifelong impacts of child sexual abuse.
“We’ve seen common structural weaknesses about how the various institutions examine, understand and respond to child sexual abuse,” she said.
Child sexual abuse hearings to start today – May 2
PREMIER Jeremy Rockliff says the upcoming Commission of Inquiry into the Tasmanian Government’s Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Institutional Settings was an important step in stopping past crimes being repeated.
The Commission of Inquiry will start its hearings in Hobart on Monday.
The hearings will run for six weeks and provide the Tasmanian community – and those further afield – an opportunity to hear directly from a range of witnesses.
Commissioners, the Honourable Marcia Neave AO, Professor Leah Bromfield and the
Honourable Robert Benjamin AM, will hear from victim-survivors, their families and their
supporters, as well as from state servants, academics and experts.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff said there was “no more important task” for any government than to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children and young people.
“That is why we established a far reaching Commission of Inquiry to ensure our most vulnerable are protected and past wrongs can never be repeated in Tasmania,” Mr Rockliff said.
“The COI is working exactly as it should, with people coming forward because the process is there to support them to do so.
“The start of hearings tomorrow in Hobart will be difficult for many, but it is necessary and will give victim-survivors, their families and friends, and other relevant parties the chance to detail their experiences and shine a light on these matters, once and for all.”
The first hearings week from Monday to Friday will focus on the scope, focus and context of the inquiry, the nature and effect of child sexual abuse, child sexual abuse in institutional settings and the implementation of the National Royal Commission recommendations.
The second week will focus on the Department of Education.
Witness lists will be updated daily and published on the Commission’s website where there is also a full hearings schedule.
Hearings will run from 10am to 4pm each day.
Members of the public are welcome to attend in person or watch the live stream on the Commission’s website.
Further hearings may be scheduled if the Commission considers it appropriate to do so.
The Commission will hand down its final report and recommendations by May 1 next year.
Mr Rockliff said the government had ensured victim-survivors giving evidence are well supported by having access to counselling.
More Coverage
Originally published as ‘I just asked her if that man was bad and she said yes’: Mother tells commission of inquiry trauma story under paedophile nurse
It’s not the first time Ferguson’s fallen
Michael Ferguson’s first speech in Tasmania’s parliament drew upon an ancient motto – dulcius ex asperis — meaning “life is sweeter after difficulty”. Why that was important then, and now.
Party in the Paddock announces huge line-up
As other music festivals across the state pull the plug, Tasmania’s largest music and camping festival, Party in the Paddock, is returning in 2025 with a bang. CHECK OUT THE LINE-UP
Liberals move quickly to elect new deputy Premier
There was only one candidate to replace the under-fire Michael Ferguson after he resigned from his portfolios. Here’s Tasmania’s new deputy Premier.
Royal Hobart Hospital cleaners ‘floored’ by staff move
Lack of hospital linen and staffing shortages are common complaints among Royal Hobart Hospital’s cleaning staff. But management’s latest move has left staff feeling “floored”.
‘So no one else loses a son’: Mother’s grief fuels campaign for change
It’s been more than four and a half years since Faith Tkalac lost her son, Jari Wise. Now she’s using her grief to help young people recognise the signs of domestic abuse in a new campaign.
Serial violent offender beats up dad’s neighbour with chair leg
He previously punched a supermarket worker in the face and hit his father in the back with a chair. Now, a man is in trouble again for his latest alcohol-fuelled assault.