Allegations of rape, abuse hit Furlong family ‘like a wrecking ball’

VANCOUVER – Family members of former Vancouver Olympic CEO John Furlong — including his ex-wife — are speaking out against allegations of physical and sexual abuse.

John’s three children, his wife, ex-wife and 11 grandchildren have issued a statement condemning the latest allegations made by reporter Laura Robinson, who is being sued by Furlong for earlier accusations about his time as a teacher at a First Nations school in northern B.C.

A statement of defence filed by Robinson this week includes new claims alleging Furlong physically abused a former spouse and sexually assaulted another.

Furlong’s family says these allegations — which have not been proven in court — are an unfounded abuse of journalistic privilege.

The family says the “obscene” innuendo has smashed the family like a wrecking ball.

Robinson wrote a story for the weekly Georgia Straight newspaper last fall that alleged Furlong lied about his past as a volunteer teacher at a Catholic school in Burns Lake, B.C., four decades ago, where some students claim he was physically and verbally abusive.