30 Jun 2021

Lake Alice patients' lawyer speaks after end of Royal Commission hearing

From Morning Report, 8:26 am on 30 June 2021

The Abuse in Care inquiry looking at abuse of young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital in the 1970s, has concluded.

After two weeks and two days of a public hearing and about 40 witnesses - the last word was left to the survivors.

Over 300 young people went through the child and adolescent unit between 1972 and 78 and many were abused, sexually and physically, often with electric shock treatment and painful drugs, such as paraldehyde.

One of the lawyers for survivors, Alana Thomas had a blunt message for the commissioners from the children of Lake Alice.

She spoke to Susie Ferguson.