"Even If He Survives Jail, He Will Be an Old Man': Judge's Harsh Words for Paedophile Priest Who Will Likely Die behind Bars for Sexually Abusing Vulnerable Boys As Young As 12

By Daniel Peters
Daily Mail
February 16, 2017

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4230368/Paedophile-priest-Brian-Spillane-die-jail.html

Paedophile priest Brian Spillane, 74, has been jailed for nine years for sexually abusing vulnerable and homesick boys for over two decades

A paedophile priest who sexually abused vulnerable and homesick boys for over two decades could spend the rest of his life in jail.

Father Brian Spillane was a charismatic priest and college chaplain, and generally well regarded by the school and others.

But his 'respected position' masked a manipulative predator who sexually abused boys who sought his help over two decades at St Stanislaus College in Bathurst.

Now the 74-year-old former clergyman faces the prospect of dying in jail after he was sentenced in the NSW District Court on Thursday for the assaults on boys aged under 16 in the 1970s and 1980s.

The most serious charge was buggery (anal intercourse).

The court heard Spillane preyed on boys - some as young as 12 - who were feeling homesick and invited them up to his room under the guise of providing comfort.

Instead they were subjected to various indecent assaults.

The 74-year-old former clergyman faces the prospect of dying in jail after he was sentenced in court on Thursday for the assaults on boys aged under 16 in the 1970s and 1980s

A Year 10 student who went to Spillane's room seeking counselling was given tablets and a cough mixture which effectively drugged him, before he was assaulted on the priest's bed.

He was abused again some time later.

A 13-year-old boy in 1985 was placed on Spillane's lap and subjected to an exorcism after being told he 'had the devil in him' before being assaulted.

'He was devastated by the experience,' Judge Robyn Tupman said on Thursday.

'He threw his clothes away and had a shower.'

Another victim who was attending day school was sexually assaulted a number of times in 1978.

The 14-year-old, who had initially sought comfort from Spillane because his mother was sick, was told no one would believe his story after the assaults, which included buggery.

The abuse started with kisses but eventually exacerbated to rape.

Spillane tried to initiate anal intercourse on the teen again after the student came to his room for disciplinary reasons. The boy told him to stop because it hurt.

Spillane abused him in another way and as the student was leaving the room said: 'I don't know what we're going to do with you if you keep getting into trouble.'

He sexually abused boys who sought his help over two decades at St Stanislaus College in Bathurst (pictured)

Spillane also conducted group prayer sessions, where he would chant and 'speak in tongues'. During one session he touched a student's penis.

Judge Tupman said Spillane had taken advantage of vulnerable boarders and obtained their silence in a 'particularly manipulative' way.

The victims were impressionable teens away from their homes, without any sounding board to check Spillane's behaviour.

'He was charismatic and genuinely well regarded by the school and others,' Judge Tupman said of Spillane.

'But he was using his respected position to abuse these children.'

Outside court one of the victims said his life had been destroyed by the abuse.

'For me, this is a life sentence,' Damien Sheridan told reporters.

'What he's done to me, I'm still dealing with it all.'

Spillane, who has not expressed remorse for his actions, sat with this back to some of the victims in court.

His sentence will run concurrently with time he's already serving for previous convictions, extending his parole date to 2026.

'There is a prospect that he will die in prison,' Judge Tupman said.

'Even if he survives jail, when he does emerge on parole, he will be an old man.'

Spillane, who has not expressed remorse for his actions, sat with this back to some of the victims in court