Former P.E.I. orphanage residents get settlement

After almost 11years in the courts, former residents of the Mount Herbert Orphanage in P.E.I.have a settlement.

Less than half a million dollars will be shared among 57 former residents involved in the lawsuit.

"They're saying they're glad it's over, they can get on with their lives. That's what we want," said Hardy Broome, who started the suit 11 years ago.

These former residents have spent the past decade in court fighting for compensation for abuse they say they endured at the orphanage.

Their claims include physical, sexual and mental abuse, anddate back as far as the 1920s and run through the 1970s.

Broome marked his first birthday at the orphanage. He and his brothers were placed there because their parents couldn't care for them anymore.He lived there for 14 years.

"I'm glad it's over. Been a long haul, but whatever it is, won't bring back our childhood or anything," Broome said.

Many of the former residentssay they were hit, locked in rooms and deprived of food as punishment. Some claim a lack of medical attention led to serious health problems.

Some of the former residents are still in counselling.

Their suit was against the provincial government and the Protestant Children's Trust, which used to run the orphanage.

Original court file opened in 2002

Together the province and the trust are providing $486,400.

The trust will contribute $236,400 and the province $250,000.

In a written statement from lawyers representing all the parties, they say the settlement isn't an admission of liability and that none of the parties involved are totally satisfied with it.

But they hope it will allow the former residents to move on with their lives and allow the Protestant Children's Trust to resume its charitable work.

Supreme Court Justice Wayne Cheverie, who has been involved with the case since 2004, said the settlement, by its nature, involved compromise.

It's not known how the money will be divided or when the former residents will get it.

"It's my hope you'll be able to seek disbursement of funds as soon as possible," said Cheverie.

The court file was first opened Jan. 14, 2002.

Cheveriecalled the case"very long and protracted."

Broome said this settlement won't erase the bad memories, but the residents he's hearing from say it does provide some closure.