AUSTRALIA
The Mercury
By GAVIN LOWER
Law Reporter
25feb06
SCHOOL authority prevented four boys from speaking out about being sexually abused by a priest more than 30 years ago, a court was told yesterday.
Crown prosecutor Michael Stoddart said the boys could not complain about the priest's behaviour because of the harsh regime they were under at Marist College in Burnie.
"How could these children have challenged the authority?" Mr Stoddart told the jury in his closing address in the trial of Roger Michael Bellemore.
"They're told not to say anything by Father Bellemore."
Mr Bellemore, 70, has pleaded not guilty to four charges of maintaining a sexual relationship with a young person under the age of 17.