Family Tells of Being Abandoned by Catholic Church after Their Son Committed Suicide

ABC
September 7, 2016

http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2016/s4533830.htm?site=newcastle

MARK COLVIN: This story from the child abuse royal commission contains details you may find disturbing.

The mother and brother of a 13 year old boy who killed himself say the Catholic Church abandoned them and gave them no support after his tragic death.

The boy, Andrew Nash, is believed to have been sexually abused by a notorious paedophile, Francis Cable - better known as Brother Romuald.

Members of the family have told the royal commission that Brother Romuald came to their house soon after they found the body and wanted to know if he'd left a note.

Michael Edwards has this report.

MICHAEL EDWARDS: The Nashs are a devoutly Catholic Family from the Newcastle area.

Their father Herbert worked on the ships. Their mother Audrey worked part-time cleaning the house of the local priests.

They had five children - three girls and two boys.

The sons attended school at Marist Brothers Hamilton even though Audrey didn't like Marist Brothers as people.

AUDREY NASH: I found the Marist Brothers on the whole to be arrogant and pompous. They always talked down to me and made me feel beneath them.

MICHAEL EDWARDS: The royal commission has heard multiple witnesses describe the brutality and sadism inflicted on the boys at the school by the Marist Brothers.

Her older son, given the codename CQT, attended the school from 1968.

He complained of repeated sexual abuse and beatings at the hands of the Brothers, including the notorious paedophile Brother Patrick.

CQT finished high school elsewhere but younger son, Andrew, also attended the school.

Audrey Nash told the royal commission it started off okay but progressively Andrew, normally a happy kid, began to change.

AUDREY NASH: He constantly didn't want to go to school, often claimed to be sick, and he became very subdued and withdrawn.

It was a change of behaviour in a boy who always loved going to school.

MICHAEL EDWARDS: And then on a night in October 1974, the worst thing possible happened.

AUDREY NASH: He went to his room to do his homework. About 10 minutes later his sister wanted a rubber. I told her to go and ask Andrew. She said she couldn't get in the room, Andrew wouldn't open the door.

Yeah, she couldn't get in the door and came and got me.

When we opened the door and found him, he'd hung himself behind the door.

MICHAEL EDWARDS: Along with the ambulance, local priests and Marist Brothers attended the family home.

Among them was Andrew Nash's main teacher, a man later convicted as a serial paedophile - Francis Cable, known then as Brother Romuald.

Audrey Nash now believes Brother Romuald was scared that her son might have told them about sexual abuse he was suffering.

AUDREY NASH: I don't know how the Marist Brothers knew what had happened to Andrew that night because I never called them.

I asked Brother Romuald did anything happen at the school that day, was Andrew in any trouble? Brother Romuald said "No".

And then he asked me, "Did Andrew leave a note?" And I said "No".

And Brother Romuald said, "Did he say anything?" And I said "No".

They then got in a little huddle and had a little chat and then they all left.

I now believe that Andrew was sexually abused and that he took his own life because of it.

I also believe the reason that Brothers Romuald, Christopher and John came to our home the night of Andrew's death was to try and find out if there was any evidence that Andrew left behind in relation to the abuse such as a note.

MICHAEL EDWARDS: Audrey Nash explained that the Catholic Church then abandoned her, offering no counselling, no support.

She says the priests and brothers simply forgot she existed.

AUDREY NASH: My children and I have just been devastated by the reaction of all members of the Catholic Church.

I have been left feeling empty.

I also feel so stupid that I used to fear and revere these people and I used to respect them and look up to them.

MICHAEL EDWARDS: Audrey Nash's surviving son, CQT, also gave evidence today.

He detailed the Marist Brother's regime of violence and sexual abuse at their school in Hamilton.

CQT said it pushed him into a life of alcohol abuse and crime and that, like his brother, many of his friends have committed suicide.

He wants the Marist Brothers held to account for what went on.

MARK COLVIN: Michael Edwards.