AUSTRALIA
The Australian
JANUARY 14, 2016
Dan Box
Crime reporter
Sydney
Former staff from a remote Catholic boarding school in far north Queensland say they reported alleged child abuse by a teacher to local education authorities years before he was charged by police, but were told that no action would be taken.
The Australian has previously revealed the dormitory master was one of three former employees of St Teresa’s Catholic College in Abergowrie, including two principals, currently facing child-sex charges in different states.
Several former employees of the school, many of whose pupils come from indigenous families across northern Australia, say they verbally reported their concerns about the man to senior executives at the Townsville Catholic Education Office between 1991 and 1993.
These included allegations that he attempted to sexually assault a child. One former staff member said he was later told the allegations had been investigated and no further action would be taken; another said he was threatened with legal action as a result.
In October 1993, the teacher resigned “due to personal and family reasons”, according to a school newsletter from the time.
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