- Nov 23, 2015
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Well, it hasn't taken long for the wheels to come off the AFL handling of the Hawthorn racism allegations. Certainly, if there's no adverse finding, the complainants will be calling it a pre-determined outcome to suit the AFL.
One of the women to have made sickening accusations against senior figures at the Hawthorn Football Club has announced she will not co-operate with the AFL’s investigation into the scandal.
But the AFL stands by its process, releasing a statement on Wednesday afternoon stating it can “only investigate the matter under AFL Rules” due to its jurisdiction.
The woman, referred to as “Amy” to protect her identity and partner of ex-Hawks player “Ian,” alleged they were forced to terminate a pregnancy led by key Hawthorn staffers, has been identified in the statement released by Marque Lawyers on Wednesday.
The statement claims the AFL ignored the woman when establishing the framework for the investigation, leaving her with no option but to walk away. Marque Lawyers claim the AFL gave “Amy” just two days to address the terms of reference before they were established.
But the AFL has defended the way the Terms of Reference for the investigation was pulled together. “As part of the detailed consultation process preceding the commencement of the investigation, proposed terms of reference were sent to the lawyers representing the potential participants and we took into consideration all their comments and concerns. Ultimately there needs to be balance of considerations (including cultural safety and fairness) and different perspectives and no individual had all their requests met,” the statement read.
It has for weeks been reported that several people to have made the accusations against the football club had concerns about being involved in the investigation process because of the clear conflict of interest for the AFL. Despite the league’s insistence the investigation would be entirely independent, one of the women has now announced she will be taking a stand by refusing to participate. In a statement released by Marque Lawyers, the legal team acting for one of the accusers, a women referred to as “Amy” says: “I could either stay numb and silent, or I could find my voice and play my part in the struggle to try and create safety and protection for our young ones who would inevitably face these systems”. The statement released by Marque Lawyers also revealed the further trauma “Amy” has relived since the bombshell report first made headlines, while calling the AFL “disingenuous” and says claims the process will be independent are “a lie”. “Amy has had to work through the guilt she feels at having stayed silent back then; that perhaps, had she said something, she could have prevented it happening to others,” the legal team says in the statement. “Although, as she says, “it’s a little hard to speak up when it feels like your voice box has been pulled out of your throat”.”
It’s believed Amy is the second alleged victim to walk away from the AFL probe.
The statement says the investigation report “will be the property of the AFL”.
AFL defends Hawks racism investigation as alleged victim brands safety ‘a lie’
AFL defends Hawks racism investigation as alleged victim brands safety ‘a lie’
www.foxsports.com.au
One of the women to have made sickening accusations against senior figures at the Hawthorn Football Club has announced she will not co-operate with the AFL’s investigation into the scandal.
But the AFL stands by its process, releasing a statement on Wednesday afternoon stating it can “only investigate the matter under AFL Rules” due to its jurisdiction.
The woman, referred to as “Amy” to protect her identity and partner of ex-Hawks player “Ian,” alleged they were forced to terminate a pregnancy led by key Hawthorn staffers, has been identified in the statement released by Marque Lawyers on Wednesday.
The statement claims the AFL ignored the woman when establishing the framework for the investigation, leaving her with no option but to walk away. Marque Lawyers claim the AFL gave “Amy” just two days to address the terms of reference before they were established.
But the AFL has defended the way the Terms of Reference for the investigation was pulled together. “As part of the detailed consultation process preceding the commencement of the investigation, proposed terms of reference were sent to the lawyers representing the potential participants and we took into consideration all their comments and concerns. Ultimately there needs to be balance of considerations (including cultural safety and fairness) and different perspectives and no individual had all their requests met,” the statement read.
It has for weeks been reported that several people to have made the accusations against the football club had concerns about being involved in the investigation process because of the clear conflict of interest for the AFL. Despite the league’s insistence the investigation would be entirely independent, one of the women has now announced she will be taking a stand by refusing to participate. In a statement released by Marque Lawyers, the legal team acting for one of the accusers, a women referred to as “Amy” says: “I could either stay numb and silent, or I could find my voice and play my part in the struggle to try and create safety and protection for our young ones who would inevitably face these systems”. The statement released by Marque Lawyers also revealed the further trauma “Amy” has relived since the bombshell report first made headlines, while calling the AFL “disingenuous” and says claims the process will be independent are “a lie”. “Amy has had to work through the guilt she feels at having stayed silent back then; that perhaps, had she said something, she could have prevented it happening to others,” the legal team says in the statement. “Although, as she says, “it’s a little hard to speak up when it feels like your voice box has been pulled out of your throat”.”
It’s believed Amy is the second alleged victim to walk away from the AFL probe.
The statement says the investigation report “will be the property of the AFL”.