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Stolen Aboriginal man wins payout | Stolen Aboriginal man wins payout |
(about 6 hours later) | |
An Aboriginal man taken from his family as a baby has been awarded compensation in a landmark case in Australia. | An Aboriginal man taken from his family as a baby has been awarded compensation in a landmark case in Australia. |
Bruce Trevorrow is the first member of Australia's "stolen generation" of Aboriginal people to win compensation. | Bruce Trevorrow is the first member of Australia's "stolen generation" of Aboriginal people to win compensation. |
A court found Mr Trevorrow was falsely imprisoned and treated unlawfully when he was taken from his family in 1958. | A court found Mr Trevorrow was falsely imprisoned and treated unlawfully when he was taken from his family in 1958. |
Thousands of Aboriginal children were handed over to white families under Australian government assimilation policies from 1915 to 1969. | Thousands of Aboriginal children were handed over to white families under Australian government assimilation policies from 1915 to 1969. |
In a 300-page judgement that took 18 months to deliver, Justice Thomas Gray of the Supreme Court of South Australia awarded Mr Trevorrow $A525,000 (£220,000, $447,000). | |
'Wrongful imprisonment' | 'Wrongful imprisonment' |
In his judgement, Justice Gray established for the first time that taking a child from their family in such circumstances was wrongful imprisonment and a breach of the state's duty of care. | In his judgement, Justice Gray established for the first time that taking a child from their family in such circumstances was wrongful imprisonment and a breach of the state's duty of care. |
I thought that we would never get there, but the day's come when I've got the peace of mind to start my life Bruce Trevorrow | I thought that we would never get there, but the day's come when I've got the peace of mind to start my life Bruce Trevorrow |
In December 1957, Mr Trevorrow was taken to hospital with stomach pains. When he recovered he was put into foster care with a white family without his parents' permission. | In December 1957, Mr Trevorrow was taken to hospital with stomach pains. When he recovered he was put into foster care with a white family without his parents' permission. |
He did not see his family for another 10 years, despite his mother writing to authorities to ask where her son was. | He did not see his family for another 10 years, despite his mother writing to authorities to ask where her son was. |
Mr Trevorrow, 50, argued in court that because of this action he had suffered loss of identity, depression, alcoholism and erratic employment. | Mr Trevorrow, 50, argued in court that because of this action he had suffered loss of identity, depression, alcoholism and erratic employment. |
A spokesman for South Australia's attorney-general said the government would seek legal advice before deciding whether to appeal against the ruling. | A spokesman for South Australia's attorney-general said the government would seek legal advice before deciding whether to appeal against the ruling. |
Outside court, Mr Trevorrow said it was not possible to put a dollar value on the pain he had endured. | Outside court, Mr Trevorrow said it was not possible to put a dollar value on the pain he had endured. |
"I thought that we would never get there," he said. | "I thought that we would never get there," he said. |
"But the day's come when I've got the peace of mind to start my life." | "But the day's come when I've got the peace of mind to start my life." |