WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT

A former resident of the Magill Youth Training Centre in South Australia has spoken exclusively with 7NEWS, following the formation of a special task force into alleged crimes against children at the centre.

The centre was opened in 1869 and was also known as the Boys Reformatory, McNally Training Centre and South Australian Youth Training Centre (SAYTC) before it was closed in 2012.

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An inquiry into the state’s children in care was undertaken in the early 2000s and found the state “failed to protect some of the children in its care from sexual abuse”. Multiple children involved in the inquiry were residents at the Magill Youth Training Centre.

The centre’s closure was spurred on by comments from the UN that it was “a living human rights abuse”.

A police taskforce was formed in 2023 after dozens of boys came forward with allegations of abuse.

7NEWS can now reveal a main key suspect in the alleged abuse of multiple children continued to work with vulnerable children across Australia.

One person alleged to 7NEWS they were raped by a staff member in the centre 35 years ago. They were 13 at the time of the alleged abuse.

“I was (raped) on several occasions,” they told 7NEWS.

They were in detention due to a string of crimes, including stealing cars.

“We were taken out of our rooms, taken to shower blocks, told to get on our hands and knees,” the former resident alleged.

If they refused, they alleged they were put into a straitjacket.

“If you resist, straight away, you are choked out,” they said.

Almost four decades later, they said the alleged crimes haunt them to this day.

“It eats me alive, it does,” they said. “It eats me alive.

“I’m speaking the truth about what happened at Magill Training Centre.”

Andrew Carpenter from Websters Lawyers, who represents one of the former residents, said a breakthrough may be coming.

“The police are aware of hundreds of children who were (allegedly) abused at Magill and we’re hoping there will be an arrest soon,” Carpenter said.

7NEWS can reveal a key suspect in these crimes went on to work with young vulnerable children in detention centres of all kinds across the country.

“It was absolutely putrid and horrendous, it was horrific, what happened,” Carpenter said.

Police are urging more victims to come forward with their stories and contribute to the investigation.

In December 2024, 7NEWS revealed that 21 settlements had been made, with a total of $1.54 million paid out to victims.

Another 53 claims were yet to be determined.

SA Premier Peter Malinauskas said in December that that crimes at Magill were “incomprehensible”.

“They warrant a serious investigation,” he told 7NEWS.

The first person to speak out told 7NEWS: “There was no one watching those who were watching us.”

“We were little, and we were in there,” they said.

Anyone with any information is urged to contact police.