Injuries so severe medical intervention needed

PHYSICAL abuse in special needs schools for children with learning, physical, visual, hearing or speech disabilities was so severe that injuries required medical intervention, the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse found.

Forms of physical abuse reported included hitting, punching, kicking, beating, bodily assault with implements and immersion in water.

The commission interviewed 59 witnesses and heard reports of abuse from 58 of them, 39 male and 19 female, in relation to their time in 14 different special needs schools managed by religious congregations.