Close X
Tuesday, November 26, 2024
ADVT 
National

Woman drops lawsuit alleging sex abuse by former Olympic CEO John Furlong

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 23 Dec, 2014 05:33 PM

    BURNS LAKE, B.C. — A woman who dropped a lawsuit alleging former Olympic CEO John Furlong sexually abused her while a teacher in Burns Lake, B.C., says she feels like a weight has been lifted off her shoulders.

    Beverly Abraham's lawsuit against Furlong was dismissed in B.C. Supreme Court on Friday with no costs to either party, after she asked the court to allow her to withdraw the legal action.

    Abraham said three of her family members have died recently, including her brother who was like a "twin" to her, and she couldn't handle the stress of the lawsuit on top of her grief.

    "A lot was just really heavy on my shoulders. I was going through a lot of stress with this," she said in a phone interview Tuesday.

    She says she decided that discontinuing her lawsuit was the best option for her to move on with her life after consulting with hereditary chiefs from her First Nation.

    "I am relieved. It's just like, you know when something weighs you down and it's just thousands and thousands of pounds laying on your shoulders? It lifted me up," she said.

    "Now I can move on with my life and be happy, and start my grieving for my loved ones that I lost. I never grieved for them because I was thinking too much of the suit."

    A statement from Furlong's legal counsel said he has always maintained the allegations from Abraham and two other accusers are false, and an RCMP investigation has also concluded Abraham's allegations are not supported.

    Furlong still faces lawsuits from Grace West and an unidentified man, who both allege they were sexually assaulted by Furlong while they were students at Immaculata Roman Catholic elementary school in 1969 and 1970.

    Their lawsuits claim Furlong, who was a physical education teacher, in separate incidents isolated them after class and molested them. The legal documents also allege physical abuse and name-calling, including "dirty Indian" and "squaw."

    None of the allegations have been proven in court, and the former Vancouver Olympic boss has forcefully denied the claims.

    Furlong would not comment Tuesday on the two outstanding claims as they remain before the courts.

    Lawyer Jason Gratl represented all of the claimants but has withdrawn as their counsel. He said no inferences should be drawn from the situation.

    In court documents filed last week, Furlong said he was having "significant difficulty" communicating with West. He said the addresses provided appear to be non-residential P.O. boxes.

    A trial is set for Mar. 30, 2015.

    "The allegations made by the three plaintiffs have had and continue to have devastating consequences financially and emotionally for Mr. Furlong and his family," the documents read. "Mr. Furlong has taken all available steps to date to bring a swift resolution to the three actions."

    The Roman Catholic diocese that ran Immaculata elementary school in Burns Lake, 1000 kilometres north of Vancouver, questioned in a statement of defence whether West was ever a student at the school.

    Justice Miriam Gropper has ordered disclosure of the unidentified man's residential school records.

    The allegations against Furlong surfaced in a 2012 newspaper article written by freelance journalist Laura Robinson that claimed he abused students while teaching in northern B.C. in the late 1960s and 1970s.

    Furlong is suing the reporter for libel, while Robinson is suing Furlong for defamation.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Man charged with kidnapping, attempted murder of six-year-old in Alberta

    Man charged with kidnapping, attempted murder of six-year-old in Alberta
    EDMONTON — A 21-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder, aggravated sexual assault and kidnapping in an attack on a six-year-old girl on a reserve west of Edmonton.

    Man charged with kidnapping, attempted murder of six-year-old in Alberta

    Minister Steve Ashton resigns, says he will seek leadership of Manitoba NDP

    Minister Steve Ashton resigns, says he will seek leadership of Manitoba NDP
    WINNIPEG — Manitoba's transportation minister says resigning from cabinet before launching a leadership campaign to become the province's next premier was the honourable thing to do.

    Minister Steve Ashton resigns, says he will seek leadership of Manitoba NDP

    Man charged in Calgary after unlocked running SUV was stolen with baby inside

    Man charged in Calgary after unlocked running SUV was stolen with baby inside
    CALGARY — A young man has been charged after an SUV was stolen in Calgary with a sleeping baby inside.

    Man charged in Calgary after unlocked running SUV was stolen with baby inside

    Ottawa posts $3.2B deficit for October, including impact of income splitting

    Ottawa posts $3.2B deficit for October, including impact of income splitting
    OTTAWA — The federal government said Monday it posted a deficit of $3.2 billion in October due in large part to its new income-splitting plan for families and the doubling of the children's fitness tax credit.

    Ottawa posts $3.2B deficit for October, including impact of income splitting

    Toronto Man Ordered To Pay $1.5 Million For Credit Card Fraud

    Toronto Man Ordered To Pay $1.5 Million For Credit Card Fraud
    FARGO, N.D.—Prosecutors described a Toronto man’s massive credit card fraud scheme as high-tech bank robbery — stealing the identities of 38,000 people in order to bilk dozens of banks.

    Toronto Man Ordered To Pay $1.5 Million For Credit Card Fraud

    Vancouver School Board Calls On Province To Restore Adult Student Funding

    Vancouver School Board Calls On Province To Restore Adult Student Funding
    VANCOUVER — The Vancouver School Board is calling on the B.C. government to reverse a decision that will abolish funding for some adult students.

    Vancouver School Board Calls On Province To Restore Adult Student Funding