AUSTRALIA
The Chronicle
Chris Calcino 16th May 2014
FORMER Catholic school principal Terence Hayes has defended his decision not to notify police of abuse claims against pedophile teacher Gerard Vincent Byrnes.
Legal submissions to the royal commission into child sexual abuse have revealed a great deal of buck-passing as key witnesses argue their innocence.
Byrnes is serving 10 years’ imprisonment for 44 child sex offences involving 13 girls aged between eight and 10 years old at a Toowoomba school.
“Whilst Mr Hayes accepts responsibilities for his own failures to comply with (or indeed consult) the student protection kit, there is a systemic issue here … he did not receive the advice which he ought to have been given – in particular to comply with the student protection kit,” Mr Hayes’ submission stated.
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