Students abused during maths class

Sky News
September 5, 2016

http://www.skynews.com.au/news/national/nsw/2016/09/05/students-abused-during-maths-class.html

A NSW survivor of child sexual abuse has recalled wearing a tight belt to school so his maths teacher couldn't get his hands down his pants, an inquiry has heard.

The survivor, known as CNS, was abused by Brother Patrick, whose real name is Thomas Butler, during maths classes at Marist Brothers High School at Hamilton, near Newcastle, in 1971.

'Brother Patrick sexually abused me on numerous occasions during that year,' CNS told the a Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse on Monday.

'But I always wore a tight belt so he was never able to get his hand right down inside my pants and onto my genitals.'

The royal commission is examining how Maitlaind-Newcastle Catholic authorities dealt with allegations of abuse against Brother Patrick, as well as men who were known as a Brother Romuald and Brother Dominic.

CNS said it was discussed among students that the trio were 'touchy feely' and 'would put their hands down your pants'.

He testified that he confronted the school's principal, Brother Christopher, about the problem after deciding to leave the school.

He later found out that his father had also made a complaint to the school after finding out his younger brother had also been abused.

'How do you justify that Brother Patrick, Brother Romuald and Brother Dominic are molesting kids,' he recalled telling Brother Christopher in his office.

'All he said was something to the effect, 'they're all good competent teachers'.'

The royal commission also heard from Father William Burston who was the priest who anointed 13-year-old Marist Brothers student Andrew Nash after he killed himself in his bedroom in 1974.

He said it's possible that he had described the boy's death as a 'prank gone wrong' to other people.

The Royal Commission has heard some people believe the boy may have been abused by Brother Romuald.