Scout master not charged for 12 years

• Published in: Lateline - Australian Broadcasting Corporation
• Main Author: MacDonald, Philippa
• Format: Newspaper Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sydney Australian Broadcasting Corporation 16.09.2013
• Subjects: Alberici, Emma; Larkins, Steven; MacDonald, Philippa; Mclellan, Peter

  [Philippa MacDonald]: One of the victims told the commission, "I felt belittled, dirty and confused about the incident." In a statement read out to the commission, another victim, "AC", recalled the moment he told his mother: "Mum started crying and told me it wasn't my fault and there was nothing to be ashamed about; the same thing had happened to her when she was young." ARMAND HOITINK, FORMER SCOUT MASTER: Had they acted at that time, you know, maybe it would've saved a few more kids from being abused as they later were by [Steven Larkins]. That's probably why he's in jail now. PHILIPPA MACDONALD: The Royal Commission was told in 2010, seven years after he'd left the scouts, Larkins had several children in his care and a case worker found a text on one child's phone: "Hey I love you. But you should go home tonight so we don't get caught." Yet the Children's Court gave the green light for that boy to live with Larkins.