Calling someone a Karen 'borderline sexist': tribunal
Calling someone a "Karen" is "borderline racist, sexist and ageist", a British tribunal has ruled.
An employment tribunal judge said the slang term, typically targeted at middle-aged white women, was "pejorative".
It came as Sylvia Constance, 74, brought claims of unfair dismissal, direct race and age discrimination and victimisation at Watford Employment Tribunal against Harpenden Mencap, a charity that provides support to adults with learning disabilities.
Constance, who the tribunal heard is Black British, said she was targeted because of her race having been dismissed in June 2023 because of an "irrevocable breakdown in the relationship" with Mencap.
Bosses had previously suspended Constance over claims of "emotional/psychological abuse of a tenant in your care" and "bullying and intimidation of colleagues", the tribunal heard.
Christine Yates, who represented Constance at the tribunal, said in a document: "The respondents have acted like the stereotypical 'Karen' having weaponised their privilege and more powerful position against the complainant, making up and suspending the complainant for numerous fictitious infringements, and deflecting from their personal misconduct.
"As egregiously, they encouraged residents under their care to do same. There is also something very sordid about the way in which white, female management have facilitated racism by colluding with white, male residents to give a misogynistic, racist view of the black complainant."
But employment judge George Alliott said: "We note Christine Yates uses the slang term 'Karen', which is a pejorative and borderline racist, sexist and ageist term."
The judge dismissed Constance's claims, saying the complaints against Constance were "legitimate" and "did not constitute a targeted racist campaign against her".
Calling someone a "Karen" is "borderline racist, sexist and ageist", a British tribunal has ruled.
An employment tribunal judge said the slang term, typically targeted at middle-aged white women, was "pejorative".
It came as Sylvia Constance, 74, brought claims of unfair dismissal, direct race and age discrimination and victimisation at Watford Employment Tribunal against Harpenden Mencap, a charity that provides support to adults with learning disabilities.
Constance, who the tribunal heard is Black British, said she was targeted because of her race having been dismissed in June 2023 because of an "irrevocable breakdown in the relationship" with Mencap.
Bosses had previously suspended Constance over claims of "emotional/psychological abuse of a tenant in your care" and "bullying and intimidation of colleagues", the tribunal heard.
Christine Yates, who represented Constance at the tribunal, said in a document: "The respondents have acted like the stereotypical 'Karen' having weaponised their privilege and more powerful position against the complainant, making up and suspending the complainant for numerous fictitious infringements, and deflecting from their personal misconduct.
"As egregiously, they encouraged residents under their care to do same. There is also something very sordid about the way in which white, female management have facilitated racism by colluding with white, male residents to give a misogynistic, racist view of the black complainant."
But employment judge George Alliott said: "We note Christine Yates uses the slang term 'Karen', which is a pejorative and borderline racist, sexist and ageist term."
The judge dismissed Constance's claims, saying the complaints against Constance were "legitimate" and "did not constitute a targeted racist campaign against her".
Calling someone a "Karen" is "borderline racist, sexist and ageist", a British tribunal has ruled.
An employment tribunal judge said the slang term, typically targeted at middle-aged white women, was "pejorative".
It came as Sylvia Constance, 74, brought claims of unfair dismissal, direct race and age discrimination and victimisation at Watford Employment Tribunal against Harpenden Mencap, a charity that provides support to adults with learning disabilities.
Constance, who the tribunal heard is Black British, said she was targeted because of her race having been dismissed in June 2023 because of an "irrevocable breakdown in the relationship" with Mencap.
Bosses had previously suspended Constance over claims of "emotional/psychological abuse of a tenant in your care" and "bullying and intimidation of colleagues", the tribunal heard.
Christine Yates, who represented Constance at the tribunal, said in a document: "The respondents have acted like the stereotypical 'Karen' having weaponised their privilege and more powerful position against the complainant, making up and suspending the complainant for numerous fictitious infringements, and deflecting from their personal misconduct.
"As egregiously, they encouraged residents under their care to do same. There is also something very sordid about the way in which white, female management have facilitated racism by colluding with white, male residents to give a misogynistic, racist view of the black complainant."
But employment judge George Alliott said: "We note Christine Yates uses the slang term 'Karen', which is a pejorative and borderline racist, sexist and ageist term."
The judge dismissed Constance's claims, saying the complaints against Constance were "legitimate" and "did not constitute a targeted racist campaign against her".
Calling someone a "Karen" is "borderline racist, sexist and ageist", a British tribunal has ruled.
An employment tribunal judge said the slang term, typically targeted at middle-aged white women, was "pejorative".
It came as Sylvia Constance, 74, brought claims of unfair dismissal, direct race and age discrimination and victimisation at Watford Employment Tribunal against Harpenden Mencap, a charity that provides support to adults with learning disabilities.
Constance, who the tribunal heard is Black British, said she was targeted because of her race having been dismissed in June 2023 because of an "irrevocable breakdown in the relationship" with Mencap.
Bosses had previously suspended Constance over claims of "emotional/psychological abuse of a tenant in your care" and "bullying and intimidation of colleagues", the tribunal heard.
Christine Yates, who represented Constance at the tribunal, said in a document: "The respondents have acted like the stereotypical 'Karen' having weaponised their privilege and more powerful position against the complainant, making up and suspending the complainant for numerous fictitious infringements, and deflecting from their personal misconduct.
"As egregiously, they encouraged residents under their care to do same. There is also something very sordid about the way in which white, female management have facilitated racism by colluding with white, male residents to give a misogynistic, racist view of the black complainant."
But employment judge George Alliott said: "We note Christine Yates uses the slang term 'Karen', which is a pejorative and borderline racist, sexist and ageist term."
The judge dismissed Constance's claims, saying the complaints against Constance were "legitimate" and "did not constitute a targeted racist campaign against her".
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The Advertiser
11 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Calling someone a Karen 'borderline sexist': tribunal
Calling someone a "Karen" is "borderline racist, sexist and ageist", a British tribunal has ruled. An employment tribunal judge said the slang term, typically targeted at middle-aged white women, was "pejorative". It came as Sylvia Constance, 74, brought claims of unfair dismissal, direct race and age discrimination and victimisation at Watford Employment Tribunal against Harpenden Mencap, a charity that provides support to adults with learning disabilities. Constance, who the tribunal heard is Black British, said she was targeted because of her race having been dismissed in June 2023 because of an "irrevocable breakdown in the relationship" with Mencap. Bosses had previously suspended Constance over claims of "emotional/psychological abuse of a tenant in your care" and "bullying and intimidation of colleagues", the tribunal heard. Christine Yates, who represented Constance at the tribunal, said in a document: "The respondents have acted like the stereotypical 'Karen' having weaponised their privilege and more powerful position against the complainant, making up and suspending the complainant for numerous fictitious infringements, and deflecting from their personal misconduct. "As egregiously, they encouraged residents under their care to do same. There is also something very sordid about the way in which white, female management have facilitated racism by colluding with white, male residents to give a misogynistic, racist view of the black complainant." But employment judge George Alliott said: "We note Christine Yates uses the slang term 'Karen', which is a pejorative and borderline racist, sexist and ageist term." The judge dismissed Constance's claims, saying the complaints against Constance were "legitimate" and "did not constitute a targeted racist campaign against her". Calling someone a "Karen" is "borderline racist, sexist and ageist", a British tribunal has ruled. An employment tribunal judge said the slang term, typically targeted at middle-aged white women, was "pejorative". It came as Sylvia Constance, 74, brought claims of unfair dismissal, direct race and age discrimination and victimisation at Watford Employment Tribunal against Harpenden Mencap, a charity that provides support to adults with learning disabilities. Constance, who the tribunal heard is Black British, said she was targeted because of her race having been dismissed in June 2023 because of an "irrevocable breakdown in the relationship" with Mencap. Bosses had previously suspended Constance over claims of "emotional/psychological abuse of a tenant in your care" and "bullying and intimidation of colleagues", the tribunal heard. Christine Yates, who represented Constance at the tribunal, said in a document: "The respondents have acted like the stereotypical 'Karen' having weaponised their privilege and more powerful position against the complainant, making up and suspending the complainant for numerous fictitious infringements, and deflecting from their personal misconduct. "As egregiously, they encouraged residents under their care to do same. There is also something very sordid about the way in which white, female management have facilitated racism by colluding with white, male residents to give a misogynistic, racist view of the black complainant." But employment judge George Alliott said: "We note Christine Yates uses the slang term 'Karen', which is a pejorative and borderline racist, sexist and ageist term." The judge dismissed Constance's claims, saying the complaints against Constance were "legitimate" and "did not constitute a targeted racist campaign against her". Calling someone a "Karen" is "borderline racist, sexist and ageist", a British tribunal has ruled. An employment tribunal judge said the slang term, typically targeted at middle-aged white women, was "pejorative". It came as Sylvia Constance, 74, brought claims of unfair dismissal, direct race and age discrimination and victimisation at Watford Employment Tribunal against Harpenden Mencap, a charity that provides support to adults with learning disabilities. Constance, who the tribunal heard is Black British, said she was targeted because of her race having been dismissed in June 2023 because of an "irrevocable breakdown in the relationship" with Mencap. Bosses had previously suspended Constance over claims of "emotional/psychological abuse of a tenant in your care" and "bullying and intimidation of colleagues", the tribunal heard. Christine Yates, who represented Constance at the tribunal, said in a document: "The respondents have acted like the stereotypical 'Karen' having weaponised their privilege and more powerful position against the complainant, making up and suspending the complainant for numerous fictitious infringements, and deflecting from their personal misconduct. "As egregiously, they encouraged residents under their care to do same. There is also something very sordid about the way in which white, female management have facilitated racism by colluding with white, male residents to give a misogynistic, racist view of the black complainant." But employment judge George Alliott said: "We note Christine Yates uses the slang term 'Karen', which is a pejorative and borderline racist, sexist and ageist term." The judge dismissed Constance's claims, saying the complaints against Constance were "legitimate" and "did not constitute a targeted racist campaign against her". Calling someone a "Karen" is "borderline racist, sexist and ageist", a British tribunal has ruled. An employment tribunal judge said the slang term, typically targeted at middle-aged white women, was "pejorative". It came as Sylvia Constance, 74, brought claims of unfair dismissal, direct race and age discrimination and victimisation at Watford Employment Tribunal against Harpenden Mencap, a charity that provides support to adults with learning disabilities. Constance, who the tribunal heard is Black British, said she was targeted because of her race having been dismissed in June 2023 because of an "irrevocable breakdown in the relationship" with Mencap. Bosses had previously suspended Constance over claims of "emotional/psychological abuse of a tenant in your care" and "bullying and intimidation of colleagues", the tribunal heard. Christine Yates, who represented Constance at the tribunal, said in a document: "The respondents have acted like the stereotypical 'Karen' having weaponised their privilege and more powerful position against the complainant, making up and suspending the complainant for numerous fictitious infringements, and deflecting from their personal misconduct. "As egregiously, they encouraged residents under their care to do same. There is also something very sordid about the way in which white, female management have facilitated racism by colluding with white, male residents to give a misogynistic, racist view of the black complainant." But employment judge George Alliott said: "We note Christine Yates uses the slang term 'Karen', which is a pejorative and borderline racist, sexist and ageist term." The judge dismissed Constance's claims, saying the complaints against Constance were "legitimate" and "did not constitute a targeted racist campaign against her".
The Advertiser
11 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Kneecap to play at Glastonbury amid calls to ban them
Irish rap trio Kneecap are to perform at the Glastonbury Festival after a number of British politicians called for them to be banned from the event. It comes after one of the band's members, Liam Og O hAnnaidh, 27, was charged with allegedly displaying a flag in support of proscribed terrorist organisation Hezbollah, while saying "up Hamas, up Hezbollah" at a gig in November 2024. Last week the rapper, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, was cheered by hundreds of supporters as he arrived with band mates Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh at a London court in Free Mo Chara T-shirts. He was released on unconditional bail until the next hearing in August. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said it would not be "appropriate" for them to perform in the slot, which is due to go ahead on the Somerset festival's West Holts Stage on Saturday afternoon. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch also said the BBC "should not be showing" the trio's set in a post on social media last week. Kneecap are not listed as one of the acts being shown live by the broadcaster. Before the group's set, an Avon and Somerset Police spokesperson told the PA news agency: "Ticket-holders can once again expect to see uniformed officers on site at Glastonbury Festival 24/7 throughout the festival as part of our extensive policing operation ensuring it is safe for everyone attending, as well as those who live nearby." Neil Young, best known for songs such as Rockin' In The Free World, Like A Hurricane and Cinnamon Girl, will headline the festival's Pyramid Stage on Saturday night with his band the Chrome Hearts. The BBC confirmed on Thursday that Young's set would not be broadcast live from the festival in Somerset, England, "at the artist's request". Another act expected to draw a big crowd is Brat star Charli XCX, who will headline the Other Stage around the same time Young and Grammy Award-winning rapper Doechii will also perform. The 1975 headlined the festival's Pyramid Stage on Friday night, with the performance seeing singer Matty Healy joke he was his generation's "best songwriter". Friday also saw a performance from Scottish music star Lewis Capaldi who told the Glastonbury crowds "I'm back baby" as he played a surprise set, two years after a performance at the festival during which he struggled to manage his Tourette syndrome symptoms. Earlier on Friday, alternative pop star Lorde surprised fans with a secret set at Worthy Farm, performing her latest album Virgin, which was released on Friday, in full. Scottish indie rockers Franz Ferdinand brought out former Doctor Who actor Peter Capaldi during their Other Stage set while they were playing Take Me Out, one of their best-known songs. Celebrities seen at the festival include singer Harry Styles, Oscar-winning actor Eddie Redmayne and Stranger Things star Joseph Quinn. Irish rap trio Kneecap are to perform at the Glastonbury Festival after a number of British politicians called for them to be banned from the event. It comes after one of the band's members, Liam Og O hAnnaidh, 27, was charged with allegedly displaying a flag in support of proscribed terrorist organisation Hezbollah, while saying "up Hamas, up Hezbollah" at a gig in November 2024. Last week the rapper, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, was cheered by hundreds of supporters as he arrived with band mates Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh at a London court in Free Mo Chara T-shirts. He was released on unconditional bail until the next hearing in August. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said it would not be "appropriate" for them to perform in the slot, which is due to go ahead on the Somerset festival's West Holts Stage on Saturday afternoon. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch also said the BBC "should not be showing" the trio's set in a post on social media last week. Kneecap are not listed as one of the acts being shown live by the broadcaster. Before the group's set, an Avon and Somerset Police spokesperson told the PA news agency: "Ticket-holders can once again expect to see uniformed officers on site at Glastonbury Festival 24/7 throughout the festival as part of our extensive policing operation ensuring it is safe for everyone attending, as well as those who live nearby." Neil Young, best known for songs such as Rockin' In The Free World, Like A Hurricane and Cinnamon Girl, will headline the festival's Pyramid Stage on Saturday night with his band the Chrome Hearts. The BBC confirmed on Thursday that Young's set would not be broadcast live from the festival in Somerset, England, "at the artist's request". Another act expected to draw a big crowd is Brat star Charli XCX, who will headline the Other Stage around the same time Young and Grammy Award-winning rapper Doechii will also perform. The 1975 headlined the festival's Pyramid Stage on Friday night, with the performance seeing singer Matty Healy joke he was his generation's "best songwriter". Friday also saw a performance from Scottish music star Lewis Capaldi who told the Glastonbury crowds "I'm back baby" as he played a surprise set, two years after a performance at the festival during which he struggled to manage his Tourette syndrome symptoms. Earlier on Friday, alternative pop star Lorde surprised fans with a secret set at Worthy Farm, performing her latest album Virgin, which was released on Friday, in full. Scottish indie rockers Franz Ferdinand brought out former Doctor Who actor Peter Capaldi during their Other Stage set while they were playing Take Me Out, one of their best-known songs. Celebrities seen at the festival include singer Harry Styles, Oscar-winning actor Eddie Redmayne and Stranger Things star Joseph Quinn. Irish rap trio Kneecap are to perform at the Glastonbury Festival after a number of British politicians called for them to be banned from the event. It comes after one of the band's members, Liam Og O hAnnaidh, 27, was charged with allegedly displaying a flag in support of proscribed terrorist organisation Hezbollah, while saying "up Hamas, up Hezbollah" at a gig in November 2024. Last week the rapper, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, was cheered by hundreds of supporters as he arrived with band mates Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh at a London court in Free Mo Chara T-shirts. He was released on unconditional bail until the next hearing in August. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said it would not be "appropriate" for them to perform in the slot, which is due to go ahead on the Somerset festival's West Holts Stage on Saturday afternoon. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch also said the BBC "should not be showing" the trio's set in a post on social media last week. Kneecap are not listed as one of the acts being shown live by the broadcaster. Before the group's set, an Avon and Somerset Police spokesperson told the PA news agency: "Ticket-holders can once again expect to see uniformed officers on site at Glastonbury Festival 24/7 throughout the festival as part of our extensive policing operation ensuring it is safe for everyone attending, as well as those who live nearby." Neil Young, best known for songs such as Rockin' In The Free World, Like A Hurricane and Cinnamon Girl, will headline the festival's Pyramid Stage on Saturday night with his band the Chrome Hearts. The BBC confirmed on Thursday that Young's set would not be broadcast live from the festival in Somerset, England, "at the artist's request". Another act expected to draw a big crowd is Brat star Charli XCX, who will headline the Other Stage around the same time Young and Grammy Award-winning rapper Doechii will also perform. The 1975 headlined the festival's Pyramid Stage on Friday night, with the performance seeing singer Matty Healy joke he was his generation's "best songwriter". Friday also saw a performance from Scottish music star Lewis Capaldi who told the Glastonbury crowds "I'm back baby" as he played a surprise set, two years after a performance at the festival during which he struggled to manage his Tourette syndrome symptoms. Earlier on Friday, alternative pop star Lorde surprised fans with a secret set at Worthy Farm, performing her latest album Virgin, which was released on Friday, in full. Scottish indie rockers Franz Ferdinand brought out former Doctor Who actor Peter Capaldi during their Other Stage set while they were playing Take Me Out, one of their best-known songs. Celebrities seen at the festival include singer Harry Styles, Oscar-winning actor Eddie Redmayne and Stranger Things star Joseph Quinn. Irish rap trio Kneecap are to perform at the Glastonbury Festival after a number of British politicians called for them to be banned from the event. It comes after one of the band's members, Liam Og O hAnnaidh, 27, was charged with allegedly displaying a flag in support of proscribed terrorist organisation Hezbollah, while saying "up Hamas, up Hezbollah" at a gig in November 2024. Last week the rapper, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, was cheered by hundreds of supporters as he arrived with band mates Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh at a London court in Free Mo Chara T-shirts. He was released on unconditional bail until the next hearing in August. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said it would not be "appropriate" for them to perform in the slot, which is due to go ahead on the Somerset festival's West Holts Stage on Saturday afternoon. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch also said the BBC "should not be showing" the trio's set in a post on social media last week. Kneecap are not listed as one of the acts being shown live by the broadcaster. Before the group's set, an Avon and Somerset Police spokesperson told the PA news agency: "Ticket-holders can once again expect to see uniformed officers on site at Glastonbury Festival 24/7 throughout the festival as part of our extensive policing operation ensuring it is safe for everyone attending, as well as those who live nearby." Neil Young, best known for songs such as Rockin' In The Free World, Like A Hurricane and Cinnamon Girl, will headline the festival's Pyramid Stage on Saturday night with his band the Chrome Hearts. The BBC confirmed on Thursday that Young's set would not be broadcast live from the festival in Somerset, England, "at the artist's request". Another act expected to draw a big crowd is Brat star Charli XCX, who will headline the Other Stage around the same time Young and Grammy Award-winning rapper Doechii will also perform. The 1975 headlined the festival's Pyramid Stage on Friday night, with the performance seeing singer Matty Healy joke he was his generation's "best songwriter". Friday also saw a performance from Scottish music star Lewis Capaldi who told the Glastonbury crowds "I'm back baby" as he played a surprise set, two years after a performance at the festival during which he struggled to manage his Tourette syndrome symptoms. Earlier on Friday, alternative pop star Lorde surprised fans with a secret set at Worthy Farm, performing her latest album Virgin, which was released on Friday, in full. Scottish indie rockers Franz Ferdinand brought out former Doctor Who actor Peter Capaldi during their Other Stage set while they were playing Take Me Out, one of their best-known songs. Celebrities seen at the festival include singer Harry Styles, Oscar-winning actor Eddie Redmayne and Stranger Things star Joseph Quinn.
The Age
a day ago
- The Age
New evidence unearthed of shocking Japanese assault of Australian nurses
In February 1942, when the evacuation vessel, Vyner Brooke, was sunk off the coast of Sumatra, survivors who had fled Singapore just before the island surrendered to Japanese forces, struggled ashore on Bangka Island. Among them were 53 Australian army nursing sisters. Two days later, 21 who made it to Radji Beach lay dead, machine-gunned by Japanese soldiers. The sole survivor of this infamous massacre was Sister Vivian Bullwinkel, who sustained a minor flesh wound just above her left hip. Feigning death, she floated in the water until it was safe to go into the nearby jungle, where she hid for some days, caring for a badly injured British soldier. Finally, the pair realised they had no option but to make their way to the closest town, where they gave themselves up. The soldier died of his injuries, but Vivian survived, the only person, apart from the Japanese, who knew precisely what happened on that isolated beach. The story she told for the rest of her life was one of noble courage, of nurses holding hands, calmly and silently marching into the sea, until cut down by machine gun fire. Fifty years after the event, many people interested in this wartime incident began questioning the veracity of Bullwinkel's account, as the Japanese responsible for the massacre were from the same unit that had raped and murdered British and Chinese nurses in Hong Kong. Japanese historian Yuki Tanaka was even brave enough to suggest that Vivian 'did not tell the truth' at the International Military Tribunal in 1946, to save her dead colleagues from 'the disgrace of being known as victims of rape'. It was not until 2019, building on forensic detective work by writer Barbara Angell and journalist Tess Lawrence, in whom Vivian had confided, that I amassed sufficient evidence, some of it from Vivian herself, revealed in my book Angels of Mercy, to show that the nurses had been raped before being killed, and that the scene on the beach had been horrific. Far from calm acceptance of their fate, the nurses had run for their lives, screaming, some only partially clad and at least one killed by a sword blow to the head. When The Sydney Morning Herald reported my 2019 findings when the book was released, there were naysayers who refused to believe it. They also refused to believe that Vivian had been gagged, although she had also told Lawrence that being forced to remain silent had caused her great emotional anguish. However, the article aroused international interest, and several people contacted me. A former employee of the (now) Department of Veterans' Affairs, revealed that Bullwinkel's files had been 'more closely guarded than the nuclear codes' because 'she had been raped by the Japanese on Bangka Island'. A female army officer reported that in the early 1990s, when chatting to Vivian about her forthcoming biography, published in 1999, she confided that her biographer was refusing to allow her to tell all the facts, to let the truth be known. When asked, 'Well, what is the truth?' Vivian replied, 'we were not just marched into the sea. We were raped and tortured, and then we were marched into the sea'. She told a similar story to a friend, a fellow ex-POW and a police officer, who had suffered terribly on the Burma-Thai railway. Despite her wish to have 'all the facts' revealed, Vivian, by now in failing health, was denied this right by her biographer, who had simply repeated the oft told, censored story. Seven months after publication, death silenced her forever. She died of a heart attack on July 3, 2000, aged 84. Determined to give her the voice she had been so long denied, I began an investigation to determine who had shut her down, and when. Loading The gagging had begun in 1945 with an order issued by Lord Mountbatten's South-east Asia command, forbidding any recovered prisoner of war from making any statement without military clearance. As soon as it was known that Australian nurses had been recovered from a prison camp in Sumatra, an Australian officer was dispatched to Singapore, where he prepared a statement that Vivian signed. It mirrored the sanitised version of the massacre which, by this time, had been published worldwide. The Australian military and government believed that the public should be shielded from the harsh realities of war, but determining who had silenced Vivian was going to be a challenge. However, blessed with a knowledge of how war crimes units operated, I took a punt and was rewarded when I came across a lengthy statement by Francis Hughes, a war crimes investigator. It was a gift from heaven – the missing piece, which vindicated everything Vivian had said. Hughes, who had served in a highly secret wartime unit, applied for service with 1 Australian War Crimes Section. Based in Singapore, his task was to sift through affidavits documenting atrocities to extract data for use by the prosecution. In due course, he came across one from Vivian, not the sanitised version of events but one given to war crimes investigators in which she stated all the facts. Horrified, he sought advice from his superiors who, on learning that the nurses had been subjected to rape that was 'continuous and shocking', decreed that the details should never be disclosed, out of consideration for their families and that no one, including Vivian, who knew the truth, must ever reveal it. Hughes remained tight-lipped for almost 60 years. It is amazing that, in the more than 20 years that his statement has been on the public record, no one noticed it. He also made a second statement, alluding to a cover-up, but that too passed unnoticed. Vivian's affidavit also confirmed that some nurses had been forced to act as comfort women. After reading her affidavit, Hughes reported, 'one knows exactly how they had been subject to indescribable conditions by Japanese officers who were using Dutch Club for this activity'. There is no doubt that Vivian Bullwinkel was not only brutally violated, she was forced to suffer in silence all her life by a succession of men who thought they knew best. She wanted a voice and I am privileged to give it to her. There are sure to be some who would prefer that such a story be left untold, but to continue to deliberately air brush events that are uncomfortable truths, serves no purpose but to subvert our wartime history. I like to get to the heart of the matter. All my books have uncovered a story that was not known before. Truth suppressed, facts buried, for many and varied reasons. The families of the nurses have a right to know. Vivian wanted them to know. To continue to deny the existence of an atrocity, hidden for so long, protects no one but the perpetrators.
