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	Principal Appears on Cover-up Count By Peter Hardwick The Chronicle May 13, 2009 http://www.thechronicle.com.au/story/2009/05/13/principal-appears-cover-count/ A CATHOLIC primary school principal accused of failing to act on a nine-year-old student’s complaint that she was sexually abused by her teacher appeared before Toowoomba Magistrates Court yesterday. The 49-year-old man, who is not named to protect the identity of the complainant children, was flanked by director of the Toowoomba Catholic Education Office John Borserio and a group of friends as he walked into court with his solicitor. During a brief mention of the matter, the man was formally charged with "failing to comply with an obligation to report sexual abuse of a student under 18 years attending a non-state school", as the charge appeared on the court list. He was not required to enter a plea. The principal, who is suspended on full pay, sat quietly alongside his lawyer as he asked the court to set a date for a hearing mention of the matter so a full police brief of evidence could be obtained. Police claim the man failed to report a teacher accused by the nine-year-old girl of molesting her in September 2007. The 60-year-old teacher remained at the school in various capacities until 14 months later when he was arrested on 12 counts of rape and 34 of indecent treatment of a child under 12 relating to 13 girl complainants. The since-retired teacher had been the school’s designated child protection officer during the relevant time. At his initial court appearance in December last year, police claimed the incidents had taken place in the classroom environment during 2007 and 2008. He has been held in custody since that court appearance. Though not as yet required to enter pleas to the 46 charges against him, his legal representatives have indicated he is expected to take all charges by way of ex-officio plea of guilty to the District Court for sentencing. Magistrate Kay Ryan yesterday adjourned the principal’s matter to July 7 for hearing mention in the same court. Ms Ryan excused the defendant from having to appear in court that day. In a statement issued after yesterday’s court proceedings, Mr Borserio said he was "firmly committed to the internal investigation launched by The Most Rev William Morris, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Toowoomba". "The internal investigation into both the school and the Toowoomba Catholic Education Office’s handling of this matter, which is being conducted by a Brisbane legal firm, is now well under way," he said. "As director of this office, I am totally committed to this inquiry and I am confident it will ensure that all facts related to this situation will become clear and that appropriate action can be taken." Mr Borserio said the investigation was expected to be completed shortly.
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