MARTIN: Class-action lawsuit shines light on torment of past abuse

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It must be utterly horrible to be haunted by one’s past, especially one that stretches back more than four decades.

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But such is the reality for Bobbie Bees, the plaintiff at the centre of a class-action lawsuit against the federal government over acts of sexual abuse by a Canadian Armed Forces chaplain at an Edmonton base before the priest/soldier’s court martial in 1980.

Father Angus McRae, who was a captain stationed at Canadian Forces Base Namao between 1978 and 1980, was a child molesting pedophile who left in his wake several broken children.

And although Bees was never directly abused by the now-deceased predator, he was still one of his victims according to a Calgary-filed lawsuit which was just certified as a class-action case.

In approving the class-action process, which means any victim can come forward and join in the lawsuit, Calgary Court of King’s Bench Justice Richard Neufeld noted Bees was alleged to have been abused by one of McRae’s altar boys, known by the initials P.S., between the ages of seven and nine.

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He alleges P.S., who was about 12 to 14 years old at the time, took him to the base chapel where he was drugged and sexually abused in the presence of McRae and the priest arranged for P.S. to babysit Bees where further sexual abuse took place.

McRae, who was never criminally prosecuted for his predatory behaviour as a soldier, admitted in a Catholic diocese ecclesiastical court in June 1980, that he had sexually abused “several minors” over the preceding “couple of years.”

Among his victims was the altar boy, P.S., who brought a civil action in 2008, against the perpetrator which was settled out of court. McRae died in 2011.

Bees has led the charge for several years for justice for himself and other former children who suffered abuse either from McRae, or with his blessing.

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Because of that, Neufeld found Bees was an appropriate representative plaintiff in the lawsuit, which was filed more than three years ago in Calgary.

“Mr. Bees has, for many years, pursued access to justice in respect of his claim of sexual abuse as a child,” the judge noted.

“He appears to have suffered many years of torment and depression which he attributes to his childhood experience.”

The judge said Bees has agreed to take on the responsibility of a representative plaintiff and confirmed his willingness to carry the case to its conclusion.

“This is despite his intention to seek medical assistance in death, as the ultimate respite from his lifelong depression, after it becomes available for those whose underlying medical condition is mental illness,” wrote Neufeld.

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“One can only hope that access to justice, however this action is resolved, will lead or assist Mr. Bees to find a different path.”

Parliament has approved Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) for those suffering severe mental illness, but has twice delayed the implementation of the approval, now to take effect March 17, 2027.

Bees played a part in making that happen, having filed a written submission to a Parliamentary committee in May 2022, in support of MAiD for the mentally ill.

“I would ask the committee to understand that this life of mine belongs to no one but myself,” he wrote.

“I had no say in the matter of my sexual abuse or how my sexual abuse was dealt with. I had no say towards how my mental health as a child was neglected.

“Allow me the dignity to determine how and when my life will end.

“Allow me the dignity to die in a peaceful and painless manner.

“Allow me the dignity to not have to die alone.”

Hopefully the justice system will eventually help Bees exorcise his demons. Whether that assists him to find that different path Neufeld spoke about will be for him to ultimately decide.

KMartin@postmedia.com

X: @KMartinCourts

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