Marist Brothers looked for abuse evidence after teen's death, royal commission told

By David Marchese
ABC News
September 6, 2016

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-09-06/marist-brothers-looked-for-abuse-evidence-after-teen-death/7818288

Andrew Nash, a Marist Brothers student, died in his bedroom in 1974.

Audrey Nash broke down while giving evidence to the royal commission about the death of her son.

Former Catholic Marist Brothers provincial Brother Alexis Turton.

The mother of a Newcastle teenager who killed himself more than 40 years ago has told the child abuse royal commission she believes a group of Marist Brothers were "looking for evidence" at her home after the death.

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse hearing into the Hunter region's Catholic Church has shifted its focus to the Marist Brothers this week, hearing stories of abuse carried out over decades.

Audrey Nash has given evidence to the commission, describing her son Andrew as a "compliant" boy who initially enjoyed going to school at the Marist Brothers high school in Hamilton.

But in early 1974, Mrs Nash said Andrew's behaviour changed after he returned from school late one night.

"He was very subdued and quiet, not himself at all," she said. "He didn't say anything further and I didn't ask."

Mrs Nash said Andrew began pretending to be sick so he could get out of school.

"He became very subdued and withdrawn," she said.

Six months later, in October 1974, Mrs Nash said Andrew took his own life in his bedroom at the age of 13.

Mrs Nash has long suspected that one of Andrew's teachers, convicted paedophile Francis Cable, had been abusing her son.

Cable, known as Brother Romuald, was sentenced to 16 years' jail last year after being convicted of dozens of child abuse charges.

Mrs Nash said Brother Romuald was one of several Brothers and other priests who showed up at her house just hours after her son's death.

"He asked me, 'Did Andrew leave a note?' and I said no. Brother Romuald said 'Did he say anything?' and I said no."

Mrs Nash told the commission she believes the Brothers came to her home that night "to find out if there was any evidence that Andrew left behind in relation to the abuse".

She said she was discussing the matter with a priest years later, who got "fed up" before telling her, "it's been going on forever; the Romans had their little boys, the Greeks had their little boys and the English aristocrats had their little boys".

Earlier, Andrew Nash's brother, known to the commission as CQT, told of his own abuse at the hands of Marist Brothers in the years leading up to Andrew's death.

"I would describe several of the brothers and lay teachers at the school as vicious and sadistic thugs," CQT said.

"One day a stray kitten came into the schoolyard ... Brother Cashen kicked it so hard it suffered a fatal injury. Its guts came out of its arse."

CQT described how he was once caned so hard on his hand that he could not close his fist, and later warned his mother that a Brother "was going to kill him".

The commission heard that CQT's life fell apart after the death of his brother and the family was offered no pastoral assistance at all.

"It was like I didn't exist. I was completely ignored."

CQT said his abuse has "destroyed his family", adding that he only recently made amends with his mother, who initially did not believe he was being abused.

The royal commission earlier heard that more than 150 Marist Brothers have been the subject of abuse claims in northern New South Wales, the ACT and Queensland.

Former professional standards director for the Marist Brothers, Alexis Turton, gave evidence to the commission this morning and was provided with a list giving the names of 154 Brothers subject to complaints.

Brother Alexis confirmed he spoke with 52 Brothers about allegations of abuse against them, and 10 of those Brothers admitted to him they had carried out abuse.

The commission chair, Justice Peter McClellan, asked Brother Alexis to explain the group's "cruel" behaviour and "harsh physical punishments" delivered to students.

"Can we ever try to understand why it is that the Brothers, as a group of men, behaved in such a way to young children?"

"It happened," Brother Alexis responded.

"Physical punishment was accepted in those days but I don't have the explanation."

Brother Alexis was then asked what steps the Marist Brothers had taken in recent years to change the culture.

While the Brother said they had "been addressing the issue", he admitted there had been no structured examination into the Brothers' behaviour.

The commission hearing is expected to hear from more church officials when it resumes in Newcastle tomorrow.