Wylie & Wylie 2014 FamCA 174

A mother of a child involved in a case denied under oath having  herself been, when a child, a victim of horrific repeated rape by her brother over many years.  The judge considered the mother denied this experience although the matters were in her affidavit in a misguided attempt to protect her parents who were unaware of the sexual abuse (perjury).

The judge commented that for victims of childhood sexual abuse to conceal their abuse, even from their parents, is a regular occurrence and that it is a well-known facet of abuse cases – social science informs us and the community understands that these victims feel blame and shame and are reluctant to re-experience the abuse through the telling of their stories.  It is understandable that the mother set out to conceal the matters that are in the affidavit.