KENT NEWS: An award-winning film-maker who specialises in investigations of child abuse will address thousands at a rally in Trafalgar Square today.Bill Maloney, 54, who edits his documentaries from a converted caravan in Whitstable, has earned a reputation for exposing horrific activities at some of the country’s most notorious care homes and detention centres.
As such he will be one of a number of chief speakers at this afternoon’s UK Rally Against Child Abuse, which takes place between 1-5pm and will also feature an open mic session for victims and their families.
Last year Mr Maloney shot a controversial film, entitled Adam Rickwood and The Medomsley Heroes, which he said generated a huge response.
Half of the film focuses on the abuse carried out at County Durham’s infamous Medomsley detention centre in the 1970s and 80s, while the rest examines the plight of 14-year-old Adam Rickwood, who committed suicide in 2004 after being unlawfully restrained by officers at Hassockfield Secure Training Centre.
Mr Maloney said: “The organisers of the rally approached me on the back of a couple of films I’ve done about child abuse, and I’ve been getting emails from victims all over the world.
“They all want to know what I’m going to talk about at the rally, and I’ve told them I want to know why the age of consent in the Vatican City is the youngest in the world at 12 if all the nuns and priests are meant to be celibate.
“Given that my whole family was abused by the Roman Catholic church, that’s something I want to get out there.
“People from all over the world are interested in child abuse and there’s a very big movement against it now.
“This rally is an opportunity for people to sound off and talk about the things and people that are making them angry.”
One of eight children born to an alcoholic father and prostitute mother, Mr Maloney spent the majority of his childhood in care but was able to turn his life around.
A career making films and documentaries followed, with the highlight so far being an award at the New York Film Festival for his first creation, Lunatic.
However, Mr Maloney has so far rejected big-money directing deals and is determined to stay close to his working-class roots.
He said: “There are millions of abuse victims out there and so many of them are messed up, either on anti-psychotic drugs or self-medicating.
“It’s really a very harrowing world and they need their own film stars, film-makers and singers to represent them.
“I think it’s good to show that victims like me can come through and have a sense of humour and the ability to love. It’s not all doom and gloom.”
Film director to speak at child abuse rally today