Hostel child abuse report to be released

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A REPORT on child abuse at state-run hostels in Western Australia will be released to the public in coming weeks, Premier Colin Barnett says.

The report by former Supreme Court Justice Peter Blaxell is the result of a lengthy inquiry that began focusing on events at the St Andrews Hostel in Katanning in the 1970s and 80s.

The inquiry was later expanded to St Christopher's Hostel in Northam, Hardie House in South Hedland and St Michael's House in Merredin.

The inquiry heard how convicted pedophile brothers Dennis and Neil McKenna used their positions of authority at St Andrews Hostel to abuse children in their care.

It also heard about Roy Wenlock, a warden at St Christopher's hostel who allegedly sexually abused boys in his care in the 1950s and 70s.

Wenlock died in February 2007 at the age of 75.

At St Michael's House, there was no warden in the late 1970s, and older boys subjected younger ones to bullying and sexual abuse, according to a former boarder's submission.