Man says he will never recover

Aman who suffered physical, sexual and psychological abuse in nine state care facilities says he will never be able to heal.

Tyrone Marks, 60, is one of 16 survivors giving evidence to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care at public hearings in Auckland.

Marks was taken into care at 8 years old. He was made a state ward on May 22, 1969, and was discharged from care on December 17, 1976.

He told the commission yesterday the abuse he suffered was tattooed right though him.

‘‘For me, healing is not possible, because of what has happened. I still carry on however, as normally as possible.’’

Plans were made for Marks to live in care for one year in January 1969 because his father was receiving psychiatric treatment for having a violent temper, and admitted he would harm marks if he stayed home.

The details of his first admission were suppressed, but his second placement was at Epuni Boys’ Home in Lower Hutt. He was admitted on three occasions between May 1969 and September 1973.

He was held for a minimum of four days, locked up for 24 hours a day. ‘‘I was not let out for exercise. I had nothing to do. There was just a bed and a toilet.’’

Marks said staff members would hit the boys with all their force, and one would boot him so hard he lifted off the ground.

Marks was admitted to Campbell Park in Otekaieke next, which he said was a ‘‘terrifying place’’ where he was sexually and physically abused by staff.

Marks had two admissions to Hokio Beach School in Horowhenua, and got the ‘‘new boy stomping’’ immediately.

‘‘I was regularly and repeatedly intimidated, bullied and physically assaulted by other boys.’’

Marks went to Kohitere Boys’ Training Centre in Levin between July and December 1975, where he suffered sexual, physical and psychological abuse.

‘‘On at least one occasion, a king-pin at Kohitere forced me to watch boys sexually assaulting other boys at Kohitere. I still remember this because it was sick.’’

Marks ended up in Borstal training in 1976 and could not read or write when he left care.

He taught himself later in life and completed a diploma in social work and a graduate diploma in counselling. However, he could not be registered due to his past. ‘‘I’m almost 61, and I am still having to hustle to get through life.’’

‘‘I’m almost 61, and I am still having to hustle to get through life.’’

Tyrone Marks