{"id":458774,"date":"2025-12-19T23:27:30","date_gmt":"2025-12-19T23:27:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/458774\/"},"modified":"2025-12-19T23:27:30","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T23:27:30","slug":"former-patients-left-waiting-for-justice-after-damning-report-into-brisbanes-wolston-park-mental-hospital","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/458774\/","title":{"rendered":"Former patients ‘left waiting for justice’ after damning report into Brisbane’s Wolston Park Mental Hospital"},"content":{"rendered":"

Randall Carrington sits on a park bench at Manly Beach. It’s 1977, and he’s got a sun-kissed Australian tan and wavy blonde hair.<\/p>\n

The painting hangs in Kerry Carrington’s home office, frozen in time.<\/p>\n

It’s about all that she has left of her brother.<\/p>\n

Warning: This story includes descriptions of sexual violence<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

A painting of Randall by former Wolston Park patient Debbie Manson hangs on Kerry Carrington’s wall. (Supplied: Kerry Carrington)<\/p>\n

Mr Carrington died by suicide after he was released from Brisbane’s notorious Wolston Park Mental Hospital.<\/p>\n

The mental facility closed in 2001, but it has long been tainted with allegations of sexual abuse and patient mistreatment.<\/p>\n

In the late 1970s, Mr Carrington was housed at Pearce House \u2014 a high-security ward at the hospital for violent male offenders with mental illnesses.<\/p>\n

But he had no criminal record and was 18 when he was sent to Wolston Park.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

High-security Pearce House at Wolston Park was reserved for violent male patients. (ABC News: Christopher Gillette)<\/p>\n

“He was tripping out on gold-top mushrooms and was misdiagnosed as schizophrenic,” Ms Carrington said.<\/p>\n

“He was bashed, he was robbed, and for protection, he had to offer sexual services to the charge nurse”.<\/p>\n

Ms Carrington has fought for years for an inquiry into Wolston Park.<\/p>\n

A 12-month review into the former mental health facility was released on Friday, following an ABC investigation.<\/p>\n

The report included harrowing accounts of child sexual abuse, sexual violence and staff cover-ups.<\/p>\n

For patients and their families, the review process has been cathartic.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

A 12-month report into Wolston Park revealed harrowing accounts of child sexual abuse, sexual violence and staff cover-ups. (Submitted: Kathleen Mary Fallon)<\/p>\n

Queensland Health is now investigating options for a public memorial, which participants of the review have welcomed.<\/p>\n

But Ms Carrington says there also needs to be reconciliation, in the form of a public apology to all former patients and their families.<\/p>\n

“We’re still left waiting for an apology, we’re left waiting for justice,” she said.<\/p>\n

“I would like to know if there’s going to be an investigation into the many serious crimes. Are they going to be properly investigated and taken seriously?”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Queensland’s health minister Tim Nicholls told reporters on Friday that Wolston Park was “a sad and sorry chapter in Queensland’s past”.<\/p>\n

“The report itself was commissioned … following reports by the ABC \u2026 the overarching aim was for people to be able to tell their stories and that’s what this report has been about,” he said.<\/p>\n

Counselling and support services<\/p>\n