AUSTRALIA
The Australian
September 13, 2016
EAN HIGGINS
ReporterSydney
@EanHiggins
DAN BOX
Crime reporterSydney
@DanBox10
The Child Abuse Royal Commission has released its report into Sydney’s elite Knox Grammar School, which finds the former long serving headmaster Ian Paterson gave evidence on oath that was “clearly incorrect” and that he “covered-up” allegations of abuse by staff.
Dr Paterson told the commission he only heard of one instance of sex abuse at the school but the commission has found he knew of allegations against two named teachers, as well as a third who had an affair with a student and a fourth who assaulted a 14-year-old while wearing a balaclava.
The Royal Commission into institutional responses to child sexual abuse found Dr Paterson failed to prioritise the welfare of the boys at Knox over the reputation of the school by covering up allegations in relation to two teachers and failing to notify the parents of boys who had made allegations.
A number of former students reported the abuse to police in 2009 following the establishment of Strike Force Arika, which investigated allegations of historical child sex offences at Knox.
Five teachers from Knox — Roger James, Adrian Nisbett, Damien Vance, Craig Treloar and Barrie Stewart — were charged and later convicted of child sex offences against students.
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