AUSTRALIA
Sydney Morning Herald
March 4, 2015
Rachel Browne and Melanie Kembrey
Knox Grammar School was Ian Paterson’s “life and empire” and the former headmaster told the royal commission he would go to great lengths to protect its reputation.
On Wednesday he admitted he tried to cover up potential litigation against the school, misled a police officer investigating child abuse allegations and hindered her inquiry into claims against six teachers.
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse heard Inspector Beth Cullen spoke to Dr Paterson about the six teachers in 1996. At the time three of the teachers under suspicion were still working at the Wahroonga school.
Dr Paterson admitted to the commission he did not provide the officer with any information about sexual molestation claims but referred her to their staff files, in full knowledge they did not contain records of abuse.
Under questioning by counsel assisting, David Lloyd, Dr Paterson agreed that he deliberately misled Inspector Cullen and hindered the investigation but said he could not remember why.
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