Victims of religious sought

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The le Bourget College, located in Rigaud, could be targeted by a class action in connection with the assault alleged, in particular, on a student in the 1970s.

Valerie Gonthier

Tuesday, 17 October, 2017 19:07

UPDATE
Tuesday, 17 October, 2017 19:07

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Already sprayed with criminal charges and a class action lawsuit that cost them $ 30 million, the Clerics of Saint-Viateur could again face the justice.

A man who alleges he was physically assaulted during his teenage years by a religious Collège Bourget intends to file a class action against the school of Rigaud and the congregation who taught there, the Clerics of Saint-Viateur.

“I have long been ashamed and lived in fear. But it can not continue. I don’t have to be a victim all my life and pay for the perversion of an adult in a position of authority, ” said the man, now aged fifty years.

In the 1970s, it would have been abused several times a month for a year. Everything would have took place sometimes in the room of a even religious, but more often to the gym.

Break the silence

The victim alleged, the traumatic memories of abuse would not be brought to the surface only recently, after an accident. Since then, he said he was finally able to get an explanation for the pain “of physical, psychological and emotional” long time suffered. Despite the shame, he said he is now ready to denounce his aggressor. But he argues not to be the only one to have been attacked.

“What I tell you, what I experienced, I know that this is only the tip of the iceberg,” he says.

He launches a cry from the heart so that other men, who were reportedly assaulted by religious between the years 1960 and 1990 at the Collège Bourget, occur.

“What I say to other victims is to face their fears. In my case, it lowered the pressure of at least 50% to 60%. I believe that it was the time that I talk about, I proceeded, to break the silence, but also try to break the silence other victims, ” he insists.

Other victims ?

Also, his attacker alleged to have made at least a second victim. The brother referred to has in fact been criminally charged before being judged unfit to stand trial. He died soon after, in November 2014. A statute of limitations of three years is normally provided for filing an appeal when the person is deceased.

“The request of appeal must be filed quickly. We want to find other victims, because we know that it is extremely likely that this brother or other members of the staff have other, ” insisted Virginia Dufresne-Lemire, the lawyer responsible for the action.

A member of the Clerics of Saint-Viateur, Laurent Madore, has already been convicted for sexual assault in the 1980s at the Collège Bourget. The congregation has also had to pay$ 30 Million to young deaf abused.

For any information on this proposed class action, visit the website agressionssexuelles-collegebourget.com or call at 514 522-0505.