Author
Thompson, Geoff
Publication Date
14 December 2011
Publisher
ABC Investigations Unit
URL
Description
More than 35 violent deaths in Australia have been linked to men who attended the same, often brutal, boys' home when they were teenagers, an ABC investigation has confirmed. Fifteen of these deaths led to convictions for either murder or manslaughter.
The Institution for Boys, Tamworth was established in 1947 as a place of punishment for boys aged 15 to 18 who absconded from other boys' homes. It was attended by some of Australia's most infamous killers and criminals, including Arthur Stanley 'Neddy' Smith, George Freeman, Kevin Crump, James Finch, Archibald McCafferty and Billy Munday.
The ABC has interviewed six former inmates who, while they did not go on to commit serious offences, all agreed that time spent at the boys' home in Tamworth could turn someone into a killer.
Interviews: Des Drury, former prison officer; Keith Kelly, former Tamworth inmate; Bob McLuland, former Tamworth inmate; Bob Connare, former Tamworth inmate; Lloyd George, former Tamworth inmate; Dr Michael Daffern, Australian Psychological Society.
Contains original footage of Tamworth Institution for Boys; re-enactments of treatments of the children; news footage of Arthur Stanley 'Neddy' Smith, George Freeman, Kevin Crump, Archie McCafferty, James 'Jimmy' Finch.