‘Loud fence’ honours victims as parole date nears for Park Orchards paedophile Barry Watson
February 25, 2016 12:20pm
ROWS of brightly coloured ribbons have been tied to a fence in a Park Orchards reserve to mark the horrors inflicted by paedophile Barry Watson, as his parole date nears.
The ribbons, a tribute to Watson’s victims, make-up what is known as a “loud fence” at Domeney Reserve, the exact site where the former Park Orchards youth leader molested young boys in the 1960s and ’70s.
The ribbons were tied to the fence by a woman in support of the victims, as part of the “loud fence” social media movement which encourages people to report abuse.
Watson, who was jailed in December 2013, will be eligible for parole in coming months.
The now 75-year-old abused boys aged between nine and 13 while he was a youth leader for the Church of England Boys Society (CEBS) in Park Orchards.
Court documents show Watson would often order boys to strip naked before molesting them.
Watson would often isolate boys at the society’s hall in Domeney Reserve or his own Park Orchards home before abusing them.
In several instances, Watson, who claimed he himself was sexually abused as a child, would fondle his victims’ genitalia and claim he was checking for diseases.
Watson also abused boys, sometimes in large groups at the same time, during CEBS camps in Warrandyte and Frankston and while driving through Olinda and Healesville for work.
During one incident, Watson, according to court documents, took photographs of a naked boy and told the victim he had friends who would want to look at the photos.
Watson’s victims are now middle-aged men. They will be allowed to address the Parole Board to either support or oppose his early release.
In impact statements to the Melbourne County Court, his victims reported multiple suicide attempts, drug and alcohol abuse, failed marriages and emotional scars.
One victim said he found it difficult to attend his daughter’s sporting events at Domeney Reserve where he was abused.
In December 2013, County Court Judge Rachelle Lewitan sentenced Watson to four years imprisonment with a non-parole period of two and a half years.
A spokesman for the Adult Parole Board said the question of Watson’s parole had not yet been determined.
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse heard this month that a ring of paedophiles abused children throughout Australia during their time as adult leaders in the Church of England Boys Society.
However, the commission did not investigate this abuse in Victoria, where Watson was active.
If you have any more information about the case email thomas.obyrne@news.com.au
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Child sexual abuse victims angry over perpetrator’s jail term
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Adam Cooper
Victims of a man who sexually assaulted 11 boys more than three decades ago when he was a community leader are angry at what they consider a light jail term.
Barry Francis Watson, 73, will serve a minimum of 2 1/2 years in prison for abusing boys in his care as young as seven when he was a leader in the Anglican Church’s youth group, CEBS, between 1969 and 1979.
Watson was found guilty in October of 12 charges of indecent assault on a boy aged under 16. He then pleaded guilty to another six charges.
On Thursday County Court Judge Rachelle Lewitan imposed a maximum jail term of four years but the sentence has upset some of Watson’s victims.
One called out to Watson as he was led from the dock, and outside court, he and others spoke of their disappointment to prosecutors.
Watson was trusted by the community to let boys stay at his home and at camps, or to ride with him in his delivery van when he worked for a bread company.
The court heard he took advantage of his victims by assaulting them while they were bathing, seated next to him in his van and at CEBS camps and activities.
At a camp he had a group of boys undress and stand in a circle. He then went around the group inappropriately touching each boy, the court was told.
Judge Lewitan said Watson’s victims had all spoken of the impact his offending had on them.
She said many were distrusting of others and had relationship problems. One man said in a victim impact statement that he had had trouble bathing his children and changing their nappies.
One man spoke of problems with alcohol, drugs and anger, and another said he had immense psychological problems, including attempted suicide and a fear of bread aisles in supermarkets because they reminded him of Watson.
Judge Lewitan said Watson had abused the trust of people who respected him and considered him a mentor to young boys he was supposed to be caring for.
“The facts in these cases are extremely serious and disturbing and involve a gross breach of trust of 11 children – who were at the time between seven and 13 years of age – and their parents,” she said.
She said Watson had never shown remorse for his offending and some of his victims had been subjected to “vigorous cross-examination” during his trial.
Watson was found not guilty of one charge and three others were discharged.
The court heard that Watson had been sexually abused at an Anglican boarding school in Dubbo.
In 1987 he pleaded guilty to similar charges in Melbourne Magistrates Court but the jail term was wholly suspended.
Watson, a father and grandfather, showed no emotion when his sentence was handed down. He has already served 53 days in custody.
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