AUSTRALIA
Newcastle Herald

By JOANNE McCARTHY Jan. 12, 2015

TWO victims of John Denham attempted suicide while still students at St Pius school, court documents show.

One of the students was hospitalised after taking barbiturates at age 16 ‘‘with the intention of dying’’, he said in a statement that formed part of the brief of evidence against Denham in 2010.

He shared the barbiturates with another student.

He told police he was bullied ‘‘almost from the first day I went to the school’’, and given alcohol by Denham before he was sexually abused, at times at Charlestown presbytery. Because of his background, which was well known to Denham and principal Father Tom Brennan, he was vulnerable and isolated.

When he turned to Brennan for help, the priest provided some comfort, but sometimes massaged the boy’s shoulders in his office, and took no action about the bullying or Denham’s abuse.

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