A landmark class action has been lodged in the South Australian Supreme Court on behalf of victims of alleged horrific abuse inside the state’s youth detention system. The claim alleges abuse occurred over several decades, with many victims said to have been primary school-aged children who were targeted while in custody.
The action centers on alleged abuse at the Magill and Cavan youth training centres between 1970 and December 2015. Lawyer Liz Kefford wrote in the application that the victims were vulnerable minors who needed care, protection and stability, but instead were exposed to sexual and physical violence, fear and mistreatment that has had lasting impacts throughout their lives.
A high-level police taskforce was launched last year to investigate the alleged crimes, with detectives working to identify and prosecute prison guards accused of violently abusing children they were hired to supervise. SA Police has moved to keep some information in the class action confidential to avoid impacting ongoing criminal investigations.
