Christian Brothers Teacher Admits Abusing Kalgoorlie Schoolboy More Than 50 Years Ago

By Joanna Menagh
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
March 15, 2018

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-15/christian-brothers-teacher-admits-abusing-schoolboy-50-years-ago/9551770

A former Kalgoorlie Catholic schoolboy who says he was sexually abused by a Christian Brother more than 50 years ago has expressed his relief that his long battle for justice has finally led to the man responsible admitting what he did.

James Brian Hamilton, who was a teacher at the Christian Brothers College in Kalgoorlie, has pleaded guilty to a charge of indecently and unlawfully dealing with a child under 14 — an offence that happened in 1964.

Hamilton, who is now in his 80s, appeared in Perth's District Court via video link from Melbourne, where it is believed he has lived for the past few decades.

A second charge was discontinued by the prosecutor, who told the court the decision to drop that count was made on "public interest grounds".

Watching on from the public gallery was Hamilton's victim, who cannot be identified and is now in his 60s, but who was only aged about 13 when the abuse happened.

After the brief hearing, he spoke outside the court about his 50-year fight to bring Hamilton to justice and the effect the abuse has had on him.

"If one has been sexually abused, you never forget it, ever ever ever, and that's one reason why we need to protect the children of the future," he said.

"On an almost daily basis, and particularly over the past four years trying to bring this to some fruition, it's had a huge impact.

"However I must say that I'm very pleased that this man is guilty."

The man said he first started what he described as his "long, long, long battle" in the late 1980s, when he went to police but nothing happened.

He said he then contacted the Christian Brothers but they threatened to take legal action against him. He also went to the Catholic Church but still nothing appeared to be done.

Finally, a few years ago, he went to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, which led to the matter being reported to police and Hamilton being charged.

A shock and an affirmation: victim

Hamilton had initially pleaded not guilty and was due to stand trial later this month, but after discussions between his lawyers and state prosecutors, he agreed to plead guilty to the one charge, with the second one being dropped.

The victim said it was a relief to finally be believed.

"I have had Christian Brother after Christian Brother, and many other people, say to me this didn't occur and couldn't occur," he said.

"So it comes almost as a shock, but as an affirmation that my allegation is true."

Hamilton's bail was renewed ahead of a sentencing hearing in May, although he was warned by Judge Andrew Stavrianou that he should not see that decision as an indication of what sentence he will receive.

"All the options will be be open … including an immediate term of imprisonment," Judge Stavrianou told him.