A special meeting of the municipal council committee responsible for kindergartens took place in the Vienna City Hall on Tuesday. Youth City Councilor Christoph Wiederkehr (NEOS) informed the parliamentary groups about the allegations against a teacher who is said to have committed assaults on children entrusted to him. The further timetable in the cause was also presented, it was said after the meeting.
After the incidents became known – some of which are said to have taken place a year ago – Wiederkehr convened a commission to examine the allegations. Recently, not only the incidents themselves were discussed, but also the information about it, which many parents believe was much too late.
Vienna, a spokesman for Wiederkehr of the APA reported that the head of Municipal Department 10, Daniela Cochlar, and youth attorney Ercan Nik Nafs also took part in the meeting. It was stated, for example, that the commission’s report should be available at the end of June or beginning of July. The child protection concept announced by Wiederkehr is to be presented in autumn. At the affected location itself, the staff was also increased, it was announced.
Four suspects
The public prosecutor’s office in Vienna is currently investigating four suspected cases. It is about the accusation of serious sexual abuse of minors or the sexual abuse of minors. In the first case, which was a year ago, there is already an expert opinion. In the three cases that have only recently become known, expert opinions have yet to be obtained.
A lawyer is also heavily involved in the case as the legal representative of parents whose children were cared for in the facility. Johannes Bügler now represents seven pairs of parents whose children may be affected, as he said when asked by APA – “although the number will probably increase because more parents are constantly contacting me and some appointments are still pending”. The parents reported the suspected cases.
Bügler had also already announced that he wanted to sue the city – for 50,000 euros per affected child, subject to further claims. The lawsuits would be prepared “shortly” by him, Bügler. To date there has been no communication between him and the city, “because they have not answered my letters,” he reported on the current status.
The opposition called for further steps on Tuesday. Among other things, the ÖVP advocated the creation of a standardization of parent information. The establishment of an ombudsman was also requested. The Greens want free, psychological care for parents and their children, as well as supervision for teachers. This must be made available unbureaucratically, it said. The FPÖ, in turn, demanded the immediate suspension of the head of MA 10.