AUSTRALIA
Sydney Morning Hrald
Ex- Christian Brothers headmaster Desmond Richards taken into custody pending likely jail term for assaulting boys
November 7, 2014
Paul Bibby
Court Reporter
A former Chistian Brothers headmaster has been taken into custody ahead of a likely jail sentence for indecent assaulting young boys in the 1970s and ’80s.
Desmond Eric Richards, also known as Brother Neil Richards, pleaded guilty this year to assaulting four young boys aged between 11 and 13 while working at Christian Brothers schools in Albury, Wagga Wagga and Strathfield.
During a sentencing hearing on Friday, the District Court heard that, after assaulting the boys, Richards, now 75, whipped them repeatedly with a strap.
This was an attempt to “dominate and control” the victims to ensure they did not talk about what had happened to them, the court heard.
“This matter needs to be considered in light of the violence shown to the victims at the time,” sentencing Judge Peter Zahra said.
“They needed to go to school – they had no alternative. But when they did go they were subjected not only to sexual but also physical abuse.”
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