No information to parents – kindergarten abuse hidden for a year

It’s one of the worst things you can do to a young soul. An adult molests small children in an environment that should provide protection and safety. A teacher at a municipal kindergarten in Penzing is suspected of having touched at least one girl while she was changing her diaper and while she was sleeping.

In an official letter, parent representatives even report “serious sexual abuse in several cases”. Accordingly, girls and boys of different ages should be affected. That alone is shocking enough, but it goes further: the kindergarten management has known since March 2021 (!). The man was then transferred internally (away from all children), the case is with the Vienna Public Prosecution Service, confirms the head of MA 10, Daniela Cochlár, of the “Krone”.

Parents should be tested to see if their child is a victim
Those parents, whose offspring, however, were taken care of in collective groups by the said pedagogues, were now – 13 months later – only informed during an information evening. And fell from all the clouds. In addition, they now have to contact an association that specializes in sexual violence and is funded by the city of Vienna to have it tested whether their darling has also been a victim of the suspect.

Why did the authorities not immediately provide assistance?
Why didn’t the government offer help and support right away, but let so much time pass? Cochlár deals with bureaucratic phrases and speaks of a “standardized procedure”. The head of MA 10 also does not answer the question of the “Krone”, how many possible victims there are and why the information evening was invited. Possibly because a report is being filed? Cochlár says only this: “In April 2022, the City of Vienna as an employer requested information from the court on the status of the proceedings, was informed that an expert report was still pending and should be requested again on May 18, 2022.”

“Snout” to avoid talking to the media
The case should probably be swept under the rug and never made public. The parents have been instructed in writing not to speak to the media to avoid reporting. Reason: That would not be in the interest of the children and parents, says a letter to those involved. And: “A lot is happening in MA 10. There is a crisis meeting and an official statement is being prepared.”

City council: ‘I only know about it for two days’
Even the city council responsible for the kindergartens was left completely in the dark by its “own” municipal service. “We have only known for two days. There is a need for explanation at MA 10,” a spokesperson for Christoph Wiederkehr (NEOS) told the “Krone” regretfully.

Top lawyer Johannes Bügler, who represents a couple, speaks of a mega scandal. “Our justice system primarily protects our children as the weakest members of our society. Together with the parents, we will make it clear why this protection did not work,” said the process specialist.

An incident last year got the ball rolling. “In March 2021, a family tried to speak to the kindergarten board because their daughter was talking about intimate touches from a kindergarten teacher,” Cochlár said. The family received psychological support, MA 10 pulled the employee to the back office until new findings from the detectives were available. Before he was hired (as with all employees), an extract from the criminal record and special information about sex offenses was reportedly obtained.